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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 


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ADMIRAL J. OF SPURWINK 


BY 

JAMES OTIS. 







AUTHOR OF “JACK THE HUNCHBACK,” “ JOSIAH IN NEW YORK,” 
“WOOD ISLAND LIGHT,” “jINNY AND HIS PARTNERS,” “TOBY TYLER,” 
“ MR. STUBBS’ BROTHER,” ETC. 



A 



BOSTON : 

. I. BRADLEY & CO. 






COPYKIGHT, 1896. 

By A. I. Bkadley & Co. 



i 


CONTENTS 


CHAP. 


PAGE 

I. 

Matthew Archibald Turner 

5 

II. 

Admiral J. 


. 18 

III. 

Defiance 


. 32 

IV. 

On Guard . 

• • • • 

. 49 

Y. 

Three Errors . *. 


. 67 

YI. 

Fighting Fire . 


. 84 

VII. 

Business . 


. 101 

VIII. 

Aunt Hannah’s Visit 


. 120 

IX. 

A Legal Notification 


. 137 

X. 

A Question of Law . 


. 155 

XI. 

A Proposition 


. 172 

XII. 

An Explosion 


. 189 

XIII. 

Repairing Damages . 


. 207 

XIV. 

Mrs. Hannah Gordon 


. 224 

XV. 

The Hand of Friendship 


. 241 

XVI. 

A Penitent 


. 258 

XVII. 

Saving a Life 


. 276 

XVIII. 

The Surprise 


. 294 





































































































































































































































































ADMIRAL J. OF SPURWINK. 

CHAPTER I. 

MATTHEW ARCHIBALD TURNER. 

M ULLO ! ” 

“ Hullo yourself ! ” 

“Do you live ’round here ? ” 
u Of course I do, else why do you think I’d be 
workin’ so hard ? ” 

“ It don’t appear to me you’re straining yourself 
very much, sitting here on the sand looking at that 
piece of a vessel.” 

“She ain’t a piece of a vessel; she’s a wreck, an’ 
I’m workin’ jest the same, even if I am sitting still, 
’cause I am doin’ a power of thinkin’.” 

Then, as if to illustrate the remark, the bare- 
footed boy pulled the fragment of a straw hat down 
over his face, clasped his knees yet more tightly, 
and buried his toes deeply in the sand as if believ- 

5 


6 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


ing it necessary to get a firm clutch of his earth 
during the severe mental struggle. 

The new-comer was a neatly dressed, not remark- 
ably robust-looking boy, who any of the natives 
of Spurwink would have said after a single glance 
was one of the summer boarders from the Surf 
House on the bluff, half a mile away. 

The boy from the city watched the young Spur- 
winker intently while one might have counted ten, 
and then, seeing nothing particularly interesting in 
what might have been a tableau of “ meditation,” 
said, as he seated himself in an uncomfortable posi- 
tion on the hot sand : — 

“ Do folks ’round here work the same as you are 
doing now? ” 

“ There ain’t many who live here, except in sum- 
mer when the boarders come ; but them as do hang 
out ’round Spurwink have to scrape mighty lively 
to make both ends meet.” 

“The same as you are doing now, eh?” 

“Yes, pretty much.” 

“ Why not tell me what you’re about ? I won’t 
mind helping you a bit, if you don’t move around 
faster than you are doing now.” 

“You’re stoppin’ up to the Surf House, I reck- 
on? ” 


“ Yes.” 


Matthew Archibald Turner. 


7 


“What’s your name?” 

“ Spence Richmond. What’s yonrs ? ” 

“ Matt Turner.” 

“ Do you live up there ? ” and Master Richmond 
pointed toward a small weather-beaten house which 
stood a hundred yards or more from the shimmer- 
ing sands of the beach. 

“That’s where I live — Aunt Hannah an’ me.” 

“ Nobody else in the family? ” 

“ Of course not. How could there be when that 
is all there is of us ? ” 

“ Haven’t you any sisters or brothers ? ” 

Matt shook his head, and was evidently on the 
point of resuming the interrupted meditation when 
the inquisitive stranger continued : — 

“ See here, can’t you tell me what you’re tryin’ 
to do?” 

“ There ain’t any guess-work about it, ’cause I’m 
studyin’ mighty hard.” 

“ On what ? ” 

“ You see that wreck out there? Well, that was 
a coaster what came ashore in the line gale last fall, 
an’ she’s right here on our land.” 

Spence looked around as if trying to make up 
his mind whether the sand everywhere around 
could really be called “ land,” and then made a 
gesture of assent, which seemed necessary because 
Matt was evidently awaiting a reply. 


8 


Admiral J. of Sjmrwink. 


“Now Admiral J., lie allows that the wreck is 
what you might call common property, ’cause she’s 
been abandoned by those who own her ; but I say 
she belongs to me. Why you can get aboard of 
her at chuck high water without wading in very 
deep. Admiral J. don’t know everything he thinks 
he does.” 

“ Is he a regular admiral ? ” 

“ I guess not, ’cause them kind of fellers have to 
be sailors, don’t they?” 

“ Of coarse. An admiral is an officer in the 
navy, who has charge of a fleet of vessels.” 

“And he couldn’t do anything like that if he 
wasn’t a sailor ? ” 

“No, I suppose not.” 

“ Then he ain’t one of them kind, though all the 
folks ’round here calls him ‘Admiral J.’ ” 

“ Is that really his name ? ” 

“Well, the ‘Admiral’ isn’t; but the J. ought to 
be, seein’s his name’s Joseph J. Johnson.” 

“ Where does he live ? ” 

“ Jest ’round the point. You’ll see plenty of 
him if you’re goin’ to stay here this summer. He 
thinks he knows pretty nigh everything, an’ folks 
do say he is well posted ; but there’s some things 
he ain’t certain of, an’ that’s about who owns the 
wreck, ’cause she’s mine.” 


Matthew Archibald Turner. 


9 


44 What are you going to do with her ? ” 

“ There now, you have jest struck it ! That’s 
what I was studyin’ about, an’ I tell you it’s goin’ 
to take a good deal of thinkin’ before I figger it 
out. You see about the only chance we have around 
Spurwink of makin’ a dollar, is out of summer 
boarders. Of course our house ain’t big enough 
for us to do much in the way of puttin’ up folks, 
so I’ve been tryin’ to settle in my mind how to get 
money out of the wreck, an’ I reckon I’ve got an 
idee. When you city people come down here to 
the seashore you’re apt to act mighty foolish over 
vessels, or anything of that kind, ’cause you don’t 
know much ’bout ’em.” 

44 But I do,” Spence interrupted. “ I have 
sailed up the Hudson on a steamboat as many as 
five times, and father says perhaps we’ll go home 
from Portland by water.” 

“ That don’t mean anything. What do you know 
about vessels when you are on a steamboat? ” 

“ But they’re the same as vessels, ain’t they? ” 

“ Of course not. What I’m talkin’ ’bout is ships 
what you can’t sail without wind; when you’re apt 
to get wrecked, an’ pirates come aboard, an’ mur- 
der all hands of you. Now if you’d been in any 
such scrape as that” — 

44 But there are no pirates nowadays.” 


10 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


‘ Oh ! There ain’t, eh ? How do you know ? ” 

“ If there were you would hear of them through 
the papers ; and it’s only in books that you read 
about those things.” 

“Well, now see here, Spence,” and Matt as- 
sumed a confidential tone ; “ if you’re ’round with 
me much this summer, I’ll bet I can show you 
plenty of pirates.” 

“ Right here on this shore ? ” 

“No, not exactly that; but you can see the ves- 
sels goin’ by, an’ just as likely as not a good many 
of them are pirates. You can’t tell one when 
they’re off shore two or three miles.” 

“ Of course you can’t, so what right have you 
to call them pirates ? ” 

“ What right ? Why you don’t know but what 
they may be, an’ I’ve seen lots of craft that I’ve 
been certain wasn’t here for any good. Admiral J. 
says it wouldn’t s’prise him a bit if there were 
most as many now as there used to be.” 

Spence remained silent and motionless for a brief 
interval, during which he appeared to be reflecting 
upon the statement made by the boy, and then, as 
if thinking it unwise to discredit any assertion by 
so eminent an authority as Admiral J. returned to 
the original topic of conversation. 

“ Look here, Matt, how do you think you are 


Matthew Archibald Turner . 


11 


going to make money out of this wreck, even if 
she is all yours ? ” 

“ That’s jest what I’ve been tryin’ to figger out, 
an’ the nearest I can come to it is that I might 
make summer boarders pay for goin’ on board. Now 
supposin’ I rigged up a ladder so’s they could get 
over the rail easy, and charged ten cents apiece, 
don’t you s’pose folks would pay ? ” 

“ It seems so. I know /would if I couldn’t get 
there any other way.” 

“ Well, if I opened up the show, run it two or 
three days, an’ fifty people come, then I’d have 
five dollars, wouldn’t I ? ” 

“ Sure.” 

u Then couldn’t I buy peanuts an’ candy, an’ 
get Aunt Hannah to make some cakes, so’s to have 
a reg’lar store on board? Five dollars is a big lot 
of money.” 

“ I’ve got seven in my pocket this very minute.” 

“What? You?” 

Matt gazed inquisitively at his companion, who, 
understanding that his veracity was in question, 
drew out a pocketbook and displayed its contents. 

“ Where did you get so much ? ” Matt asked 
after an unusually long pause. 

“ I have been saving it up all winter, for I knew 
when I got down here to this shore I would want 


12 


Admiral J. of Spurwmk. 


it to hire boats, and all that kind of thing. Say, 
suppose I went into partnership with you on the 
wreck? Then you could have a store the first day 
you opened the show. That’s the way it ought to 
be fixed.” 

44 Matt ! Matt ! ” 

That’s Aunt Hannah,” the Spurwinker said in 
an explanatory tone as his companion looked 
around inquiringly. 

44 She wants you, don’t she ? ” 

44 Well, it kinder seems that way; but I can’t 
humor all her whims now, ’cause it was agreed be- 
tween us I should have all of to-day to fix things 
up about the wreck,” and he added in a louder 
tone, 44 1 can’t come now, Aunt Hannah. I’m busy, 
an’ I’ve got company.” 

“Admiral J. has jest sent over -Miss Libby’s 
Sarah to say you’d better come up an’ talk with 
him if you are thinking of doin’ anything with 
the hulk,” Aunt Hannah cried shrilly, as she stood 
on the threshold, shading her eyes in an attempt 
to see Matt’s 44 visitors.” 

44 1 s’pose he wants to say I ain’t got any right 
to claim this schooner ; but he can talk until he’s 
grayer-headed than he is now before he’ll make 
me believe it. Say, Spence, how much money are 
you willing to put out if I agree to this partner- 
ship business ? ” 


Matthew Archibald Turner. 


13 


“ I’d promise to spend as much as five dollars if 
I could come in for half of the wreck.” 

u Do you mean that you’d want to own half of 
it all the time ? ” 

“No; only this summer, because it would be no 
good to me after I go home.” 

“ And you will buy five dollars’ worth of stuff to 
sell?” 

“ Yes, I reckon that’s what I’d do ; but of course 
I should want to talk with father first. I’m pretty 
certain he’d think it was a good chance to make 
money — that is, unless Admiral J. should kick up 
a fuss, and show that you couldn’t do what you 
wanted to with the vessel.” 

“ I’ll take care of Admiral J.,” Matt replied 
stoutly and with a threatening shake of his head. 
“ He shan’t make me believe that what I know for 
certain ain’t true, an’ he’s got no right to claim 
part of her, ’cause she’s on our land.” 

“ Why don’t you hear what he has to say ? If 
he’s going to make a fuss you want to know it be- 
fore you put out too much money getting ready.” 

“ Don’t you want to go with me ? ” 

“ Yes, if you’ll wait until I go to the hotel, an’ 
talk with father.” 

“ All right. Find out what he thinks of your 
goin* into partnership, an’ then we can settle every- 
thing before night.” 


14 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“ Will you be here when I come back? ” 

“Yes, unless I’m up to the house.” 

Spence did not linger after this assurance, but 
started toward the bluff at a rapid pace, Matt 
meanwhile burying his bare toes deep in the sand, 
and hugging his knees yet more tightly in very 
joy because of what seemed a marvelous stroke of 
good fortune. 

With a capital of five dollars he felt positive the 
wreck could be converted into a money-making 
machine for so long a time as the summer boarders 
remained in Spurwink. 

So deeply occupied was he building “air-castles,” 
each having the wreck for a foundation, that he 
failed to hear the sound of approaching footsteps, 
and was decidedly startled when Aunt Hannah 
suddenly appeared. 

“ Who was you visitin’ with, Matt ? ” 

“ Your rheumatiz must be a mighty sight better, 
Aunt Hannah, if you can crawl up on a feller like 
that, for I didn’t so much as hear you step.” 

“ I allow that’s because you was so deep in your 
scheme, child. Your poor old aunt made jest as 
much noise as she ever did, an’ it cost her as great 
an effort as ever to come down here. Who was 
you visitin’ with, Matt? ” 

“A feller by the name of Spence Richirtond, 


Matthew Archibald Turner . 


15 


what’s boardin’ over to the Surf House with his 
folks. He’s got seven whole dollars, an’ is goin’ 
to put five of ’em in partnership with me.” 

“ Sakes alive, child, what do you want of five 
dollars?” 

“ W e’re goin’ to have a reg’lar store on the 
wreck ; rig up a ladder so’s people can get aboard, 
an’ charge everybody ten cents for lookin’ at her. 
We’re goin’ to hire you to make cake for us, and 
we’ll sell a raft of stuff, ’cause it seems like as if 
it didn’t take much to make money out of summer 
boarders.” 

“ Bless you, child, you’ll never find anybody 
foolish enough to give ten cents just for the sake 
of lookin’ at that old hulk ! Why it’s as much as 
your life’s worth to go on board of her.” 

“ That’s where you’re makin’ a big mistake. 
Her decks have been washed as clean as our 
kitchen floor. She sets on an even keel, an’ it’s 
only once a month that the tide comes up high 
enough to wet the cabin floor.” 

“ That don’t hinder her from bein’ a reg’lar trap 
in which to catch rheumatism, Matt, an’ even if 
you should find anybody fool enough to pay you 
ten cents for goin’ on board of her, Admiral J. 
would make a terrible fuss ’bout it. You know 
he claims that she’s common property, an’ he’s a 


16 


Admiral J. of SpurwinTc. 


master-hand at interfering, if he thinks anybody 
else is makin’ a few cents more’n he is.” 

44 He’d better not come foolin’ ’round Spence an’ 
me, ’cause I’d just as soon throw that old heathen 
overboard as not, if he tried to stop me from do- 
ing what I’ve set my mind on.” 

44 Why Matthew Archibald Turner ! You 
frighten me by talkin’ so murderously ! It’s ter- 
rible to think that boys of your age an’ bringin’ 
up have got no more conscience than to speak of 
throwin’ a human bein’ overboard.” 

That Aunt Hannah was making no pretense 
at being horrified at Matthew’s threat, could be 
told from the fact that she unwittingly leaned 
against a rock which must have been damp, for 
the tide had overflowed it a few hours previous, 
at imminent risk of inviting another attack from 
her old enemy, the rheumatism. 

44 See here, Aunt Hannah, I wish you wouldn’t 
call me Matthew Archibald Turner even when we 
are alone, ’cause you’ll get into the habit of doin’ 
it before folks.” 

Again Aunt Hannah raised her hands in mingled 
astonishment and disapprobation. 

44 Why is it, Matt, that you are ashamed of your 
own name ? Mercy knows it’s an honest one, for 
the Turners have always held their heads as high 










































































































































































































































































Mattheiv Archibald Turner. 


IT 


in Spurwink as ever the Jordans did, and with a 
good deal more reason, for there was never shift- 
less men in our fam’ly.” 

“ I ain’t disputin’ that, Aunt Hannah, an’ I ain’t 
what you might call ashamed of my name ; but 
when you sing out Matthew — Archibald — Turner, 
it makes me feel mighty foolish. Why can’t you 
call me Matt? ” 

“ Don’t I, child ? ” 

“ Yes, most of the time ; but if anybody is 
’round, you’re certain to blart out the whole thing, 
an’ I feel like as if I wanted to hide my head, I’m 
so ashamed.” 

Once more Aunt Hannah’s hands were raised, 
this time as if in expostulation, and it is quite 
positive Matt would have heard again, as he 
had nearly every day since he could remember, 
that “the Turners held their heads as high as ever 
did the Jordans,” but for the fact that just then 
Spence Richmond appeared with an expression of 
joy on his face which told, quite as plainly as words 
could have done, that his father was not opposed 
to the scheme of converting the wreck into a mu- 


seum. 


CHAPTER II. 

ADMIRAL J. 

TT^TT ATT understood that something in the 
IA/J way of an introduction between his part- 
JLAJ> ner and his aunt was necessary, and he 
accomplished it by saying : — 

“ This is Aunt Hannah, Spence, an’ she’ll treat 
you first-rate ’less you try to make out that the 
Turners ain’t every grain as good as the Jordans. 
When it comes to anything of that kind, she’s 
mighty touchy.” 

“ There’s no need for you to explain so much, 
Matt,” Aunt Hannah said, with considerable show 
of dignity. “The folks ’round here know the 
Turners as well as the Jordans, an’ when city 
people come to spend the summer it don’t take 
them long to find out that what I’ve always main- 
tained is true. So you an’ Matt are goin’ into the 
wildest scheme that two boys ever conjured up, 
are you ? ” she asked, turning toward Spence. 

“ Don’t you think we’ll make money by it ? ” 
Master Richmond asked quickly. 

18 


Admiral J. 


19 


“ I allow yon might if you could find folks who 
were willing to pay anythin’ for seein’ an old 
wreck ; but bless your souls, boys, what’s to pre- 
vent anybody from standin’ here on the beach an’ 
lookin’ at it as much as they want ? ” 

“ That’s a good deal different from goin’ on 
board of her,” Matt replied, decidedly. “ Spence 
said if it cost ten cents, he would be willin’ to pay 
it rather than not see her.” 

“ But he’s a boy, an’ boys always want to poke 
’round outlandish places. Now, I’ll warrant you 
wouldn’t catch his mother venturin’ on sich a 
hulk.” 

“That’s where you’re wrong, Aunt Hannah,” 
Spence replied with a laugh, claiming kinship as 
if it was one of the terms of the partnership. 
“ Mother said she and Florrie would be our first 
customers — that she would like to go aboard of 
the wreck if there wasn’t any danger.” 

“ But there is, child, an’ plenty of it.” 

“ How do you make that out ? ” Matt asked 
sharply. “ She’s banked up with sand so that the 
biggest kind of a tide couldn’t wash her away, an’ 
if you stay on deck there ain’t the least little bit 
of a chance to get your feet wet.” 

“I don’t mean it is dangerous so far as her 
driftin’ away goes, Matt ; but if any of the sum- 


20 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


mer boarders are rheumaticky, the farther they 
stay from the wreck, the better it will be for ’em.” 

“You mustn’t make that kind of talk, Aunt 
Hannah, after the exhibition has been opened,” 
Spence said with a laugh; “otherwise you’ll injure 
the business. We are goin’ to advertise that we 
will show the wreck at ten cents a head, and shall 
be very careful not to explain that those who come 
on board are in danger of catching rheumatism. 
Father said he was willing I should spend five 
dollars in the speculation, and the sooner we get 
to work the better, Matt.” 

“ Your father must be mighty reckless with his 
money if he is goin’ to allow a child like you to 
squander so much ! ” Aunt Hannah exclaimed. 
“ It seems like a sinful waste, an’ — Why mercy 
on us ! Here comes Admiral J., an’ I don’t know 
when I’ve seen him ’round the point at this time 
of the day before. He always allows it’s healthier 
for him to do his chores in the forenoon, an’ so, 
naturally, don’t go callin’ till after dinner.” 

Spence gazed curiously at the odd-looking little 
man who was approaching, and with good reason. 
Because of the title which had been given him, the 
boy expected to see a man, in general appearance 
at least, who resembled a sailor; but there was 
nothing about Admiral J. to indicate that he was 
of a nautical turn. 


Admiral J. 


21 


He was hardly an inch taller than fourteen-year- 
old Matt, and could not have weighed as much by 
at least a dozen pounds. His legs were bowed so 
decidedly that a plump kitten might have jumped 
between when he stood with his feet together, 
without ruffling her fur, and he toddled along 
something after the fashion of a duck. 

Nature had been niggardly with him in every 
way save one, and in that particular she was most 
lavish. 

Admiral J. was the proud possessor of luxuriant 
whiskers which fell nearly to his waist, and this 
wealth of beard caused him to look more diminu- 
tive than he really was. 

“ Why, he’s all hair,” Spence said half to him- 
self, and Aunt Hannah laughed, despite the fact 
that the little man was so near that he might sus- 
pect he was the subject of her mirth. 

“ If it wasn’t for that beard of his I don’t know 
how Admiral J. would get along in this life,” she 
said in a low, cautious tone. “ He’s forever comb- 
in’ it with his fingers, an’ folks say it grieves him 
terribly to lose even so much as a single hair. He’s 
workin’ at it so hard now that I allow he’s got on 
his mind what he considers is important business. 
You can always tell when the Admiral’s excited 
by the way he handles his whiskers.” 


22 


Admiral J. of Spurvnnh. 


There was no further opportunity for the three 
to discuss the new-comer, for he was now so near 
that even the most cautious conversation might 
have been overheard. 

44 1 declare it seems as if something must be 
wrong, else you wouldn’t be ’round the point this 
time of day, Admiral,” Auut Hannah said cheerily, 
and the little man stepped back with an air of sur- 
prise, as if he had but just recognized her. 

44 You may be surprised to see me here in the 
forenoon, Hannah Gordon, but that ain’t half as 
wonderful as it is for a woman of your age an’ 
rheumaticky disposition to be settin’ out here on 
the damp rocks.” 

44 1 know it’s foolish in me, Admiral; but some- 
how I forgot what I was about while talkin’ with 
these boys.” 

44 You won’t forget to-morrow mornin’ when 
you’re all drawed up with the rheumatiz, and 
sendin’ ’round the neighborhood for liniment.” 

44 1 don’t s’pose I shall, Admiral, I don’t s’pose 
I shall,” and Aunt Hannah rose to her feet, after 
considerable difficulty, saying, when this change of 
position had been effected: 44 1 allow I’ll pay dear 
enough for this forgetfulness; but a big dose of 
panacea won’t do any harm, an’ it may work a 
power of good. That’s a remedy I haven’t tried 


Admiral J. 


23 


yet, but promised Miss Jordan I would the first 
time I felt as if a spell was cornin’ on.” 

As she finished speaking, Aunt Hannah turned 
as if to go toward the house, but Admiral J. 
checked her by saying: — 

“ You’ve been out here so long, Hannah Gordon, 
that I don’t reckon it ’ll do you any harm to stay 
five minutes more, an’ I want you to hear what 
I’ve come to say.” 

“Why, mercy on us, Admiral J., you act as if 
somethin’ had gone wrong,” and Aunt Hannah, 
suddenly forgetting the ailments which she ex- 
pected would come upon her, turned quickly, 
standing with her hands on her hips as she looked 
scrutinizingly at the little man. 

“ From all I can hear ’round Spurwink, some- 
thing has gone wrong,” Admiral J. said, in what 
he .intended should be a dignified tone. “The 
folks are sayin’ that Matthew Archibald Turner 
lays claim to this ’ere wreck, ’cause she happened 
to come ashore in front of this ’ere house, an’ that 
he’s goin’ to make her over into a show-place, 
hopin’ to get money out of the summer boarders.” 

“Now that’s jest what we was talkin’ about, 
Admiral, when you come in sight. I allow there 
never will be anybody here foolish enough to pay 
these boys ten cents jest for the sake of goin’ 


24 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

aboard of that crazy old vessel, an’ yet they’re 
countin’ on puttin’ five good dollars into the 
scheme, which is the wildest any sensible person 
ever conjured up.” 

“ What’s this other boy got to do with it?” and 
the Admiral suddenly faced Spencer. “Ain’t he 
one of the boarders up at the Surf House?” 

“Yes, an’ he’s goin’ into partnerships with me 
to make a show out of the wreck,” Matt replied 
quickly. 

The Admiral clutched his beard with both hands, 
much as if by such a method he could hold his 
rapidly increasing temper in check, and appeared 
as if struggling to make an immediate reply. 

He had, however, so far allowed his anger to 
gain the ascendancy that it was, for the time being, 
impossible to speak coherently, and he remained 
with his head thrust forward toward Matt in an 
angry sort of fashion, trying in vain to articulate. 

“Mercy on us, Admiral J.! Whatever has come 
over you?” Aunt Hannah cried, as she moved 
toward the little man, seized him by the arm, and 
began slapping him on the back, as if fearing he 
was choking. 

This treatment, which was such as would have 
been bestowed upon a child, was not well calcu- 
lated to allay the Admiral’s anger, and he wrenched 


Admiral J. 


25 


himself loose from Aunt Hannah’s kindly grasp, 
just as he gained control over his tongue. 

“ What do you mean by treatin’ me in that 
way?” he cried, furiously. “Do you fancy I can 
be cajoled by an old woman like you, an’ two boys, 
into sacrificin’ all my interests on this ’ere shore? 
Do you think you can wheedle me out of my 
rights ?” 

Aunt Hannah looked at the angry little man in 
bewilderment ; Matt gazed alternately at the Ad- 
miral and his partner, and Spence said in a hoarse 
whisper which could readily be heard by the angry 
man : — 

“If there’s goin’ to be a row, I guess I’d better 
go to the hotel an’ wait till it’s over. There’ll be 
time enough for us to fix up about the show after- 
wards.” 

“ There’ll be no time this summer, nor next, un- 
less my rights in this matter are respected ! ” Ad- 
miral J. cried, as he wheeled around to face Spence. 

“ Why, whatever has come over the man ! ” and 
Aunt Hannah raised her hands in mingled be- 
wilderment and surprise. “ Who does he think is 
goin’ to take away any of his rights?” 

“Your nephew is tryin’ to do it, Hannah Gordon, 
an’ I want you to distinctly understand that he 
can’t continue on in the course he has marked out 
for himself, with impunity.” 


26 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


When the little man first gave evidence of being 
in a towering rage, Matt could not believe all this 
show of anger was occasioned by his scheme to 
make an exhibition of the wreck, but now he be- 
gan to understand that such must be the case, and, 
instead of discussing the matter quietly, as should 
have been done, he very foolishly allowed his own 
temper to rise, as he asked hotly: — 

“Do you mean to say, Admiral J., that I haven’t 
got any right to do as I please with what is on our 
land?” 

“ It’s not your land. That which is covered by 
the tide can’t be owned by an individual, an’ the 
wreck belongs to all who live along the shore.” 

“Mr. Atwood, of the Surf House, who owns 
more property here than anybody else, didn’t make 
any such claim.” 

“Then Mr. Atwood is a fool, an’ you can tell 
him so for me.” 

“ That’s what I will do, an’ if he once gets after 
you, I reckon you’ll behave yourself. I’ll ” — 

“Matthew Archibald Turner! I’m ashamed of 
you for speakin’ so disrespectfully!” Aunt Han- 
nan cried, as she took her nephew by the arm with 
the intention of leading him to the house. “ The 
Admiral will be sorry for havin’ lost his temper 
when he thinks the matter over quietly, an’ no 


Admiral J. 


27 


matter what he may say while he’s in a passion, 
you haven’t the right to be impudent to your el- 
ders.” 

“I’m not in a passion, Hannah Gordon. I never 
was calmer in my life,” Admiral J. cried yet more 
furiously than before. “ I’ve simply come here to 
protect my interests, and you may rest assured I 
shan’t see them put in jeopardy by Matt Turner 
and this city chap. I solemnly warn you both,” 
he added, as he turned toward the boys, while with 
both hands he combed his whiskers in a most 
energetic fashion, “ not to dare take possession of 
that wreck, otherwise you may find yourselves 
confronted by the law. I’ve lived here too long 
to be deprived of my rights, especially by children, 
and mean to go to any lengths rather than be trod- 
den upon. Remember that, you little mischief- 
makers ! I shall go to any lengths rather than be 
trodden upon ! ” 

With this parting threat, Admiral J. wheeled 
with the precision of a well-trained soldier, and, 
still tugging at his beard, walked as rapidly as his 
little bowed legs could carry him in the direction 
of his home.” 

“Well,” Spence said, with a long-drawn breath 
of relief, “I’m glad I’ve met your Admiral J.; but 
if he always acts like that, I don’t know as I’d 


28 Admiral J. of SjmrwinJc . 

care about having him around much of the 
time.” 

“He isn’t always that way,” Aunt Hannah re- 
plied sadly. “He’s generally as mild-spoken, 
peaceable a neighbor as heart could wish for, an’ I 
can’t say how sorry I am you bo}^s have done any- 
thing to rouse him to such anger. The old hulk 
isn’t worth a single harsh word, an’ perhaps it is 
jest as well he forbids your usin’ her, for I’m cer- 
tain you couldn’t make money tryin’ to entice 
people to pay you ten cents for goin’ on board.” 

“But you don’t mean to say that we’ve got to 
give up the speculation just because of what he 
said?” and Spence looked thoroughly astonished. 
“ He hasn’t got any more right to her than I had.” 

“ But he thinks he has, my child,” Aunt Han- 
nah said mildly, “an’ it would be better to give 
up a dozen sich hulks than to have hard feelings 
between neighbors.” 

“ But I didn’t give up my claim to a single tim- 
ber,” Matt cried hotly. “ She come ashore on our 
land, an’ Mr. Atwood, who knows more in a minute 
than the Admiral does in a week, told me I had a 
right to do what I liked with her.” 

“ Surely, Matt, you won’t think of goin' counter 
to Admiral J.’s wishes?” 

“ Why shouldn’t I ? What’s he got to do with 


Admiral J. 


29 


me? What business is it of his whether I turn 
her into a show, or set her on fire?” 

“He may be in the right, Matt, an’, it would be 
terrible if, in addition to havin’ harsh words with 
a neighbor who has always been a good friend, you 
should get into trouble with the law over sich a 
worthless thing. It isn’t as if we were rich, as 
Mr. Atwood is; you must remember that if you 
did take possession of what really didn’t belong to 
you, we might be turned out of house and home, 
for law-suits are awful things for poor people to 
undertake.” 

Matt looked alarmed at this suggestion of what 
might result in case he persisted in his scheme ; 
but Spence was now more eager than ever to have 
a share in the speculation, and said decidedly : — 

“ If Mr. Atwood told you it was all right to use 
the vessel for the exhibition, he knew what he was 
talking about.” 

“ But perhaps he didn’t realize that Admiral J. 
might put in a claim,” Aunt Hannah interrupted. 

“ Suppose that long- whiskered little fellow should 
put in a claim for the whole shore, would that 
make it his? Look here, Matt, come down to the 
Surf House with me, and let’s ask father about it. 
He’s a lawyer, and he’ll know whether there’s any 
chance of your getting into trouble.” 


30 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


“But Admiral J. is a man who knows a power 
about the law,” Aunt Hannah cried in alarm. 
“ He’s always readin’ about law-suits, an’ there 
hasn’t been an important case tried in this county 
without his bein’ right on hand to know what was 
said and done.” 

“It can’t do much harm to ask father, for any- 
thing will be better than givin’ in simply because 
he threatens to raise a row. Will you come with 
me, Matt?” 

Matt looked inquiringly toward Aunt Hannah, 
and after a long pause, during which she was in- 
tently debating the subject in her own mind, the 
good woman said, hesitatingly: — 

“I don’t s’pose it can do any harm for you to 
talk about what the Admiral has said, Matt; but 
don’t be rash. Don’t let any one cause you to do 
that which may bring us both into trouble.” 

“ I can promise that easy enough, Aunt Hannah, 
for I won’t do anything that you don’t agree to; 
but we may as well know whether the wreck be- 
longs to us, or Admiral J.” 

“ And you will come straight back here as soon 
as you get through talkin’ ? ” 

“ Sure. I’ll tell you one thing ; if I can’t use 
her for a show, he shan’t, if I have to set her on 
lire.” 


Admiral J. 


31 


“Now yon are startin’ in wrong, Matt,” Aunt 
Hannah said, in a tone of mild reproof. “ You 
blamed the Admiral for losing his temper, an’ 
you’re doin’ the very same thing. Don’t go away 
with revengeful feelings in your mind; but re- 
member that you should love your neighbor as 
yourself.” 

“The Admiral didn’t seem to go accordin’ to 
that rule, Mrs. Gordon,” Spence said with a laugh. 

“It doesn’t make any difference to us whether 
our neighbor lives as he should or not. His bein’ 
in the wrong doesn’t excuse us.” 

“ Say, Aunt Hannah, we must go right off if we 
want to see Spence’s father, an’ you can tell us all 
about that when we get back.” 

Before the good woman could make any reply, 
Matt and his would-be partner were hurrying in 
the direction of the Surf House. 


CHAPTER III. 

DEFIANCE. 

a URING the journey to the Surf House 
Spence behaved as if confident everything 
could be arranged by his father ; but Matt 
had less confidence in Mr. Richmond’s ability to 
reduce Admiral J. to reason. 

“ If Mr. Atwood can’t make things straight, I 
don’t believe anybody else can,” he said in a sorrow- 
ful tone after they had walked for some time in 
silence. 

“ If you’ve got any right to the wreck by law, 
father will see to it that the little wretch don’t 
make trouble,” Spence replied confidently. 

“ But you don’t know the Admiral as well as I 
do. He’s way up in law, an’ knows pretty nigh 
as much as if he was a lawyer.” 

“ Of course that isn’t so, Matt, for how could it 
be when he hasn’t studied such things ? ” 

“ But that’s jest what he has been doin’ all his 
life. Aunt Hannah was right when she said he’d 
32 



Defiance . 


33 


tended out on all the trials in this county, an’ 
everybody says he’s mighty well posted.” 

“ I don’t care a cent for what he’s learned hang- 
ing around court-rooms. My father is a regular 
lawyer, and if he says you own the wreck because 
she’s on your land, that settles it, and the Admiral 
will get into trouble if he bothers us.” 

Matt was not convinced, even though his part- 
ner spoke so confidently. The longer he revolved 
the matter in his mind the more positive did it ap- 
pear that the Admiral could not have made a mis- 
take, and by the time they arrived at the Surf 
House Master Turner was mentally prepared to 
abandon the scheme, regardless of the fact that 
much money might be gained by carrying it into 
execution. 

Had he been left to his own devices, Matt would 
have returned home without so much as asking ad- 
vice from the proprietor of the hotel, who had al- 
ways been friendly toward him ; but Spence insist- 
ed on laying the matter before his father, and in a 
few moments the famous lawyer was listening to 
his son’s story. 

Spence was so thoroughly excited that some time 
elapsed before Mr. Richmond fully understood the 
case ; but the latter at last succeeded in learning 
the main facts, and then, instead of questioning 


34 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


the boys further, entered into a private conversa- 
tion with the landlord. 

“ I do not think Admiral J. can legally molest 
you in your possession of the wreck,” Mr. Rich- 
mond finally said to the boys. “ He certainly can- 
not do so without due process of law, and I under- 
stand that there is not sufficient value in the prop- 
erty to warrant anything of the kind.” 

“ But he says we shan’t use her for a show,” 
Matt said decidedly. 

“ I do not see how he can prevent your doing as 
you choose,” the lawyer replied, with a smile. “ If 
you and Spence propose to convert her into a shop, 
charging an admission to such curious ones as may 
wish to go on board, it can be done without legal 
interference from Admiral J.” 

Matt looked surprised, and Spence triumphant. 

“ What did I tell you ? ” the latter cried. “ Now 
we can go ahead, and if that little wretch tries to 
trouble us, we’ll make him sorry.” 

“ It’s certain he’ll do as he threatens,” Matt said 
hesitatingly. 

“ If he should, come to me, and I will see to it 
that he is restrained.” 

“ I don’t think that you boys will be troubled 
by him,” Mr. Atwood interrupted. “ I will make 
it my business to see the Admiral, and advise him 
not to be foolish.” 


Defiance . 


35 


There no longer appeared any reason why Matt 
should not do as he pleased in regard to the wreck. 
With a famous lawyer from New York and the 
proprietor of the Surf House as Iris friends, there 
seemed little chance Admiral J. would be able to 
carry out the threats he had made. 

“ Come on ! ” Spence cried impatiently. 44 There’s 
no need of loafing around here, and we want to get 
the vessel fixed up as soon as possible, if we count 
on making money out of her this season.” 

Matt hesitated no longer. He hurriedly 
thanked Messrs. Richmond and Atwood for the 
interest displayed in his behalf, and joined Spence 
in a mad race to Aunt Hannah’s, where the lawyer’s 
opinion on the subject was soon made known. 

Aunt Hannah appeared thoroughly surprised 
that any one would be so rash as to say Admiral J.’s 
points of law were not well taken ; but after hear- 
ing that the landlord of the Surf House had in- 
dorsed Mr. Richmond’s view of the case, she said 
thoughtfully : — 

44 1 guess they must be right, though I never 
knew the Admiral to make a mistake before. How- 
somever, if you boys are set on turnin’ that old 
hulk into a circus, I won’t say anything more to 
check you, though it isn’t likely you’ll find a soul 
who’ll be so foolish as to pay good money to go on 
board of her an’ ketch the rheumatiz.” 


36 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


There was no longer any necessity for Spence to 
impress upon his partner’s mind the necessity for 
immediate action. 

Matt was now satisfied the Admiral would not 
dare to interfere with them, and set about the work 
of making the wreck ready for visitors without 
further delay. 

It would not be possible to send to the city for 
such articles as they proposed to sell until the fol- 
lowing morning ; but in the meanwhile there was 
plenty of work to be done. 

A bargain was made with Aunt Hannah for two 
loaves of cake to be delivered on the afternoon of 
the following day, and one-half the purchase money 
paid in advance. 

Then the partners set about constructing a gang- 
way from the hulk to the beach at the extreme 
high-water mark, and this portion of the work was 
more difficult and protracted than they had at first 
fancied. 

There was no lack of materials with which to 
work,, and from such odds and ends of lumber as 
could be found on the shore the boys began the 
building. 

At noon Aunt Hannah called them to an appe- 
tizing dinner of fried fish, and before the meal was 
concluded she was quite as much interested in the 
scheme as the partners. 


Defiance. 


87 


Although she did not believe any one would pay 
ten cents simply for the purpose of “ ketchin’ the 
rheumatiz,” she was impressed by the fact that 
Spence’s parents and sister would come immedi- 
ately the exhibition was opened, and the thirty 
cents they would pay for admission seemed like 
an exceedingly large amount, even though no other 
patrons should be found. 

Before sunset she was more excited than Matt 
had ever seen her. 

A party of visitors from the hotel, having heard 
of what the boys proposed to do, and of Admiral 
J.’s threats, came to the wreck, and although only 
two timbers of the gangway had been laid, insist- 
ed. on going aboard. 

The price of admission was paid to Matt, and 
when the last dime had been laid on his palm, he, 
without stopping to escort his patrons over the 
hulk, ran with all speed to the little weather-beaten 
house on the shore. 

“ Look here, Aunt Hannah ! ” he cried excited- 
ly, as he held out the coins. “ Ninety cents already, 
an’ we ain’t half begun to show the wreck ! ” 

“ Mercy on us, child ! ” the good woman cried 
as she put on her spectacles that she might see the 
money more plainly. “ Do you mean to tell me 
that you’ve got all that jest for lettin’ folks go 
aboard the old hulk ? ” 


88 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


“ That’s where it all come from, an’ if we had 
our store ready I’m certain we could sell a lot of 
stuff.” 

“Well, well, well, who’d thought there was so 
many fools in this world ! ” Aunt Hannah ex- 
claimed. “ They must have money to throw 
away ! ” 

“Now all the boarders will be sure to come, an’ 
if Admiral J. don’t make a fuss ” — 

“ I’ll take care of that little bunch of conceit. 
The wreck is on our land, an’ if he comes around 
here interferin’ after what that New York lawyer’s 
said, he’ll have me to deal with ! ” 

“ What’ll you do, Aunt Hannah ? ” 

“I’ll — I’ll — Well, I ain’t certain jest what I 
shall do, Matthew ; but he shan't be allowed to 
break up your plans while the money is cornin’ in 
like this, though I do hope I won’t be tempted to 
say an unneighborly word to him.” 

Matt was too much excited to be able to remain 
very long in one place, and now that he had “more 
than surprised Aunt Hannah,” as he afterward told 
his partner, he hurried back to the hulk. 

Spence Avas escorting his patrons in true show- 
man style, and when Matt came on board he heard 
the ladies expressing their satisfaction at being 
able to inspect a veritable Avreck AA'ithout further 
inconvenience than that of a walk to the beach. 


Defiance. 


89 


Mr. Richmond was one of the party, and when 
Matt came over the rail he said to him : — 

“ It wasn’t a had scheme to convert this craft 
into a show-place, and you boys ought to he able 
to pick up a good many dimes before the season 
ends. I think, however, that you should do some- 
thing more for the comfort of your patrons.” 

“We’ve counted on all that, sir. We’re goin’ 
to rig the stagin’ so it’ll be safe, an’ have lots of 
things for folks to buy.” 

“ I was thinkin’ of even more than that,” Mr. 
Richmond replied with a smile. “If you had an 
awning over the deck, and some chairs or settees, 
your patrons would be likely to spend more time, 
and, as a necessary consequence, be tempted to 
spend more money. On a moonlight night when 
the tide is high, the young people would think this 
a very romantic spot” — 

“ An awnin’ an’ chairs would cost a pile of 
money, an’ all we’ve got as a starter is Spence’s 
five dollars.” 

“ I will order what may be needed, and pay for 
them, if you authorize me to do so.” 

“But do you suppose we’d ever take in money 
enough to settle with you, sir?” and Matt was 
thoroughly surprised that the lawyer appeared to 
take so much interest in the scheme. 


40 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“ I will take the chances of that. Perhaps the 
money I shall be willing to pay for the privilege 
of coining here whenever I please, will be sufficient 
to buy such articles as seem to be needed.” 

“ Then if you don’t think there is any risk, I’d 
like to have the wreck fixed up in shape ; but I 
wouldn’t care to get into too much debt.” 

“ I will see to it that you are not heavily in- 
volved,” Mr. Richmond replied, with a laugh, and 
then he turned away, pacing to and fro the deck, 
as if measuring its length and breadth. 

Half an hour later the partners were alone and 
should have continued the work on the gangway, 
but so excited were they that it seemed absolutely 
necessary to talk over the encouraging outlook be- 
fore doing anything else. 

“ There’s no question but that this is a great 
snap for us, Matt,” Spence said gleefully. “ It be- 
gins to look as if I didn’t put in money enough to 
pay for half a share.” 

“ Ain’t you goin’ to spend the five dollars ? ” 

“Of course I am.” 

“ Then you’ve invested more’n enough to make 
you a half owner. I wouldn’t wonder if we doubled 
the money.” 

“Of course we shall,” was the confident reply; 
“and in addition to that we’ll have what comes in 


Defiance. 


41 


for letting folks on board. Everybody from the 
hotel will be here before they’re many days older, 
an’ we must get the store to running. Now what 
do you think we’d better buy ? ” 

“ Peanuts an’ candy.” 

“We want more than that. Mother said we 
ought to have fruit, and” — 

“ What are you building there ? ” a shrill voice 
cried, and, looking up suddenly, the partners saw 
Admiral J. coming down the beach as rapidly as 
his short, bowed legs would carry him. 

“You let me do the talking, Matt,” Spence 
whispered. “ He can’t scare me as he can you.” 

“ I ain’t afraid of him after what your father 
said.” 

“What are you doin’ here?” the Admiral cried 
in a yet more angry tone. 

“ Getting ready to show the wreck,” Spence re- 
plied quietly. “We’d got the work done by this 
time if we hadn’t stopped to wait on customers.” 

The Admiral combed his beard furiously as he 
stammered and spluttered, so angry now that it 
seemed impossible for him to speak. 

“ My father is a lawyer, and he says you have 
no right to interfere with us, so be careful you 
don’t get into trouble.” 

“ What do I care for your father ? ” the little 


42 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


man cried after the most severe exertion. “I’ll 
soon show you an’ him what my rights are ! ” 

“ Go ahead and do it, instead of tryin’ to frighten 
us,” and Spence arose to his feet. “ Come on, Matt, 
we’ve got to work lively if we count on getting 
this platform done before dark.” 

“ I forbid you to touch a single timber of that 
wreck ! ” the Admiral screamed. 

“ You’ve said the same thing before, but yet 
we’re going right ahead with our work.” 

“ Admiral J.,” Matt said in a conciliatory tone, 
“ suppose you talk with Mr. Atwood about your 
right to boss this wreck. He told us he’d speak 
with you.” 

“ If I didn’t know more law than Jethro Atwood 
I’d never show my head on this beach again. You’re 
takin’ possession of common property, in which I 
have an equal interest, and I command you to stop.” 

“ But we shan’t pay any attention to what you 
say,” and Spence made a pretense of continuing his 
work. 

“ Don’t you drive another nail ! ” the little man 
cried as he rushed forward and began pulling at a 
single plank which had been put into position. 
“ I’ll tear down what you’ve already done, and 
then we’ll see if you dare build it up again.” 

Spence seized a piece of plank, the first weapon 
nearest at hand, and raised it threateningly. 


Defiance. 


43 


“ If yon so much as pull out a block, I’ll strike ! 
If you have any ownership in this wreck, prove it 
legally, but don’t dare to destroy what we have 
built.” 

The Admiral was not what might really be 
called a coward, but yet he stepped back quickly 
as Spence advanced. 

The boy looked capable of carrying his threat 
into execution, and perhaps the little man began 
to doubt the legality of his position. 

“ I’ll have you arrested ! You shall be prose- 
cuted to the full extent of the law, and you among 
the rest, Hannah Gordon ! ” he added, as the good 
woman came hurriedly from the house, probably 
with the intention of acting as peacemaker. “ You 
shall suffer equally with these piratical boys ! ” 

“Joseph J. Johnson, we have lived here for 
nigh on to twenty years, an’ in all that time I’ve 
tried to do my duty to my neighbors, as we’re 
told to do it ; but I ’m too old to be threatened in 
that way by a little whipper-snapper like you ! 
Walk straight away off of my land, for you are a 
trespasser, sir, a trespasser ! ” 

The Admiral stood gazing at Aunt Hannah in 
speechless astonishment. Many times had he actu- 
ally bullied her when she dared to express an 
opinion at variance with his, and never before had 


44 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


she showed the slightest sign of anger ; now this 
sudden and unexpected outburst actually fright- 
ened him. 

“ I never expected this of you, Hannah Gordon,” 
he finally managed to say, after standing like a 
statue several seconds, during which time the 
hoys had gazed at him in astonishment, that a mild, 
inoffensive woman like Aunt Hannah could have 
reduced him to silence so suddenly. “ I ’ 11 go, 
because the law says I must when I’m warned 
away from another person’s property ; but don’t 
think that these cubs can take possession of the 
wreck, for she belongs to me as much as to any- 
one else, and I’ll set her on fire before they shall 
shut me out of my lawful rights.” 

Aunt Hannah stepped forward quickly as if to 
make an angry reply, but suddenly checked her- 
self, and walked into the house. 

“ Remember what I have said,” the little man 
added to the boys, with a threatening gesture. 
“ I’ll burn that ’ere hulk before you shall deprive 
me of my rights.” 

“We’re not tryin’ to deprive you of your 
rights ! ” Matt cried, as the Admiral hurried around 
the point ; “ and it’ll be a sorry day for you when 
you set this wreck on fire.” 

Spence looked alarmed as he asked, in a whis- 
per : — 


Defiance . 45 

“ Do you suppose he’d dare do anything of the 
kind?” 

“It ain’t easy to scare him, small as he is, an’ I 
tell you, Spence, I’m beginnin’ to be afraid we 
shan’t make so much money out of the wreck as 
we counted on.” 

“ Because he’ll burn her ? ” 

Matt nodded. 

“ Then we’ll take precious good care he isn’t 
allowed a chance to do- anything of the kind. I 
can get some blankets from the hotel, and we’ll 
sleep right there on the deck. Do you think I’ll 
stand still and let that little wretch do as he 
pleases with what is the same as mine — for I 
shall own one-half of her for the summer as soon 
as I’ve invested my five dollars.” 

“ Let’s go and talk with Aunt Hannah about it. 
She’s the best woman that ever lived in this world, 
Spence, an’ now she’s made up her mind we can 
do as we want to with the hulk, she’ll stick right 
by all the time.” 

“ Come on, then ; but we mustn’t stay long, for 
fear the Admiral will come back. I was mighty 
glad when Aunt Hannah called him Joseph J. 
Johnson, because that showed she was in earnest, 
and I could see it scared him.” 

The boys were soon at the cottage, but when 


46 Admiral J. of Spur wink. 

Matt pushed open the door they drew back as if 
alarmed. 

Near the door, crying as if in sore distress, was 
Aunt Hannah on her knees, clutching firmly the 
chair in front of which she knelt as she rocked to 
and fro. 

Spence stepped softly down from the threshold 
to the sandy path bordered with stunted plants of 
tansy, and beckoned to his partner. 

“ What do you suppose is the m'atter with her ? ” 
he asked in a whisper. “ She didn’t look as if 
she was sick when she made the Admiral draw in 
his horns.” 

“ I dunno what’s up ; we’ll hold on here a spell 
till she quiets down, and then we’ll hear all about 
it.” 

In silence the two waited, keeping sharp watch 
on the wreck meanwhile, lest the man whom 
they considered their enemy should return, and 
when ten minutes or more had elapsed, Aunt 
Hannah opened the door which Matt had partially 
closed. 

“ Are you tired of working ? ” she asked in a 
mild voice, the tone of which was “ tearful.” 

“ We come to talk ’bout what the Admiral said, 
but you was takin’ on so I was afraid somethin’ 
had gone wrong,” Matt replied. 


Defiance . 


47 


“ Something has gone wrong, Matthew,” Aunt 
Hannah said, softly. 44 1 was a wicked old woman 
to lose my temper simply because I thought the 
Admiral was in the wrong, and ” 

44 1 don’t see how you could help getting mad 
when he talked the way he did,” Spence inter- 
rupted. 

44 If he was unreasonable there was all the more 
cause for me to remember that 4 he that is slow to 
anger is better than the mighty.’ I know 4 a soft 
answer turneth away wrath,’ but yet I did not 
speak it.” 

44 1 don’t see how you could, Aunt Hannah, when 
he was threatening about what he’d do,” Spence 
said stoutly. 44 Now he declares he’ll burn the 
wreck if he can’t do any better.” 

44 We’ll hope he’ll be more reasonable after he 
has had time to think the matter oyer,” Aunt Han- 
nah replied placidly ; 44 but even though he should 
work you harm, we must not allow ourselves to 
display anger.” 

44 It can’t be helped, an’ I don’t intend to stand 
it. Matt, you keep watch of the wreck, an I’ll go 
over to the hotel. Father will tell us what to do, 
and we’ll see if that little wretch is to be allowed to 
carry on in this way.” 

44 When will you be back ? ” 


48 


Admiral J. of Spurwinlc . 


“ I won’t bo gone more than half an hour. Keep 
your eye open, and if the Admiral shows his nose 
’round here, keep him off until I return.” 


CHAPTER IV. 


ON GUARD. 



HEN Spence started off at full speed 
for a consultation with his father, Aunt 
Hannah went into the kitchen, much to 
Matt's surprise. 

“ I’d give considerable to know what she’s got 
on her mind,” Master Turner said to himself. “ It 
don’t seem reasonable that she’d lose sich a good 
chance to tell me about the badness of losin’ my 
temper, ’cause that’s what she’s strong in, an’ yet 
here’s this time all goin’ to waste. It must be she 
don’t want to soften me up too much on the Ad- 
miral’s account. She’s awful good, Aunt Hannah 
is, but if she was the worst woman in the world 
she couldn’t know for a fact how many cents there 
are to a dollar, better’n she does now. The money 
I showed her proves what a big thing can be made 
out of the wreck, an’ she ain’t goin’ to lose no sich 
chances as we’ve got now. Ninety cents clear pro- 
fit before we’d got fixed up for company ! Why 
she works all day knittin’, for half a dollar, an’ 

49 


50 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


thinks she’s mighty lucky when she has work. I 
reckon Aunt Hannah don’t want to take on her 
own shoulders the blame of fightin’ with her neigh- 
bors ; but is willin’ I should jump down on- the Ad- 
miral rather then give up the show business.” 

Matt was interrupted in his revery by the un- 
expected appearance of Mrs. Ezra Jordan from 
around the point, and he muttered to himself as he 
went hurriedly toward the wreck : — 

44 Now I reckon all the old women in the village 
will come to talk the trouble over with Aunt Han- 
nah. The Admiral must have let on that there’d 
been a row, an they’ll be here thicker’n spatter 
’tween now an’ night.” 

He was convinced of the truth of his statement 
a few moments later, before Mrs. Jordan could 
gain the house, for two more ladies came in sight, 
both evidently bent on a visit to the cottage. 

44 The Admiral must have kept hisself mighty 
busy runnin’ ’round tellin’ what happened over 
here, else the folks wouldn’t be showin’ up so soon. 
There won’t be any need of my goirr home till after 
sunset.” 

Then Matt set about the task of building the 
gangway; but before he had well begun his la- 
bors a visitor, who had come especially to see him, 
arrived. 


On Guard . 


51 


The new arrival was Joey Pendleton, a boy who 
lived at the village nearly two miles away, and no 
words were necessary to convince Matt that he 
was in a high state of excitment. 

“ What kind of a row have yon been pickin’ up 
with Admiral J.?” Joey asked while he was yet 
some distance away. 

“ What made you think there’d been any trou- 
ble?” 

44 ’Cause he come up to the village after a war- 
v rant to have you arrested. I thought sure he’d lug 
you right off to jail ; but Squire Kelley wouldn’t 
do what the old man wanted.” 

44 You mean the Squire wouldn’t give him a war- 
rant ? ” 

44 That’s the size of it, an’ the Admiral is tearin’ 
mad. He says he’ll burn the wreck. Say, what 
is it you’re goin’ to do with her ? ” 

Matt explained his scheme in detail, and Joey’s 
eyes opened wide with surprise as he learned how 
much 44 good money ” was to be invested in the 
enterprise. 

44 Five dollars oughter buy a heap of stuff, Matt. 
I don’t reckon Mr. Hewey’s got much more in all 
his store.” 

44 Now you’re ’way outer your reckonin’, Joey, 
’cause there’s plenty things at Hewey’s that cost as 


52 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


much as five dollars apiece. But we’ll have a nifty 
kind of a place in a small way,” Matt added with 
an air of pride. 

“ It won’t last long if the Admiral does as he 
threatens.” 

“We’ll watch so sharp that he can’t get the 
chance.” 

“ I don’t see how you’re goin’ to do that, less 
you stay right here all the time. Now if you had 
some feller to help out on the watchin’, it would 
be different. Don’t you want to hire a clerk, eh ? ” 

“We can’t afford to, Joey; but if you’ll kinder 
keep track of the Admiral till he simmers down a 
bit, we’ll make it all right with you.” 

“ I’ll be willin’ to do all that I can ; but if I was 
reg’larly hired of course I’d be bound to do more. 
— Hello, who’s this feller? ” 

“ That's my partner,” Matt replied, as he looked 
in the direction pointed out by his friend, and saw 
Spence approaching, literally bending under the 
burden he carried. 

“An’ has he really got five whole dollars to 
spend as he likes, or has he been stuffin’ you ? ” 

“I saw the money, an’ he’s got more when that’s 
gone. What’s that on your back, Spence ? ” he 
shouted to the perspiring boy in the distance. 

“A lot of blankets Mr. Atwood lent me. Father 


On Guard. 


53 


says I can sleep aboard to take care of the property, 
an’ he’s goin to buy an awnin’ to coyer the deck ; 
after that comes it’ll be jest like livin’ in a tent to 
stay on the wreck.” 

“ Then your father must have thought there 
was some danger the Admiral would do what he’s 
threatened ? ” 

“ He says he shouldn’t be surprised if the old 
man might be so foolish as to try,” and Spence 
threw his heavy burden on the ground at the foot 
of the gangway with a long sigh of relief. 
“ Won’t your Aunt Hannah let you stay on board, 
too?” 

44 I reckon so ; I can’t ask her now, ’cause she’s 
got company, an’ bound to have a slat more before 
sunset. This is Joey Pendleton, Spence; he’s a 
friend of mine that’s come down from the village 
to tell me the Admiral has been tryin’ to get a 
warrant to have me arrested.” 

44 He may find there’s one out for him if he 
don’t leave us alone,” Spence said regarding the 
information given, and by way of acknowledging 
the introduction added to Joey, 44 Don’t you want 
to stop here with us to-night ? ” 

44 I’d like to, first-class ; but I’ll have to go home 
an’ ask mother.” 

44 All right; skip along now, an’ while you’re 


54 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

in the village find out wliat the Admiral is 
doing.” 

Joey would have been willing to do very much 
more in order to gain such an invitation from the 
“city chap,” and he hurried off in high glee, 
thanking his stars that the Admiral had seen fit 
to raise a disturbance over the wreck. 

Spence proceeded to take on board the wreck 
the articles loaned by Mr. Atwood, and as a 
matter of course Matt assisted him, if for no other 
reason than to learn of what the outfit consisted. 

He had three blankets, a pillow, two candles, 
and a generous supply of bread, cheese and cook- 
ies. 

At this particular time in the month the tides 
were running low, and it had been so many 
days since the cabin floor was overflowed by the 
ocean that everything appeared perfectly dry. 
The sleeping berths were yet intact, and in one 
of them Spence placed the blankets, saying as he 
did so : — 

“We couldn’t have a nicer place than this, an’ 
I hope the Admiral won’t altogether give up trying 
to drive us away, for just so long as he’s making a 
row I can stay here.” 

“ It’ll be fine if I can come ; but the whole 
crowd of Jordans and Turners are visitin’ Aunt 


On Guard . 


55 


Hannah, an’ it’ll be ’cordin’ to how they look at 
the Admiral’s breakin’ out, whether she’ll let me 
come or not. I’d be dreadful sorry if the Admiral 
should get a chance to burn the vessel, Spence, 
’cause we’re goin’ to make a pile of money out of 
her ; but I’d rather he’d smash her ten times over 
than for me to do what Aunt Hannah has set her 
head against. She’s an awful good woman, 
Spence, an’ has done a sight for me.” 

“Well, we won’t talk about it now, ’cause most 
likely she’ll say yes when you ask her. There’s 
no need of our stayin’ in the cabin here, and we’d 
better get to work on the gangway.” 

While they acted the part of amateur carpen- 
ters, after rather a poor fashion, Spence gave an 
account of his doings at the hotel after having 
made arrangements for “ camping-out ” on the 
wreck. 

“ I gave Mr. Atwood the five dollars, and when 
he goes into the city to-morrow morning to do the 
marketing, he will buy for us whatever he thinks 
we can sell. Father is going to send in for an 
awning, and there is a chance he can find one 
ready-made that will fit the wreck ; if he does, 
we’ll be in great shape twenty-four hours from 
now. I heard some of the boarders talking about 
coming down here in the morning ; but I asked 


56 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


them to wait till afternoon, for by that time we 
shall have things in pretty good shape.” 

Then the boys discussed the prospects for busi- 
ness, and the chances that Admiral J. would 
succeed in doing them any mischief, working 
industriously meanwhile until Joey Pendleton 
arrived, panting heavily because of the severe 
exertion of running, but looking so triumphant 
and happy that there was no need of asking if his 
mother had given him permission to remain all 
night. 

“ The Admiral’s gone home,” he shouted, so 
impatient to unfold his budget of news that he 
began while he was yet a hundred paces away. 
“ He found there wasn’t any chance of gettin’ a 
warrant to have you fellows arrested ; but he told 
’Siah Fernald you shouldn’t take possession of this 
’ere wreck ’less something serious happened to 
him.” 

“ That means he’s countin’ on burnin’ her, as he 
threatened ! ” Matt exclaimed in dismay. “ I was 
in hope she’d give over anything of that kind.” 

“If he don’t he’ll find himself in a heap of 
trouble,” Spence added quickly. “ Father and 
Mr. Atwood are on our side, and that little bow- 
legged man won’t stand much chance against 
them. I suppose you’re going to stay with us 
all night, Joey? ” 


On Guard. 


57 


“ Yes, mother said I might stop as long as you 
fellers wanted me, if I’d agree not to go in swim- 
min’, ’cause she’s afraid of the under-tow.” 

“ What is that ? ” 

It’s when the surf pulls your feet out from un- 
der you.” 

Spence looked inquiringly at Matt, and the lat- 
ter said : — 

“ J oey is right. When the waves are high the 
upper part of them sets in towards the shore, while 
the lower portion of the water kinder sucks out 
in such a way that it pulls a feller as if there was 
a rope tied to his legs.” 

“ I’ve been in bathing, but never felt anything of 
that kind.” 

“ Admiral J. says its owin’ to the shape of the 
beach — I s’pose it slopes off in such a way that 
the water must begin to run out before the whole 
of the wave has come in. I don’t reckon you under- 
stand what I mean ; but your father will explain 
it.” 

“ Then you don’t go in swimming here ? ” 

“ Sometimes we take chances ; but it is better to 
go down near the Surf House, where there isn’t 
any danger. Aunt Hannah don’t like to have me 
run the risk here.” 

“ I’d like to find out how it feels.” 


58 Admiral J. of Spur wink. 

« Don’t ever try it,” Matt said gravely. “ I got 
caught in it once when the surf wasn’t very strong, 
an’ if Aunt Hannah hadn’t been right down here 
on the shore with a clothes-line in her hand, I’d 
never got out.” 

Then Joey told in a low, awe-inspiring tone, of 
two friends of his who had been drowned within a 
few yards of that very spot, having been caught by 
the under-tow, and when Spence turned to Matt for 
confirmation of the story, the latter said sorrowfully : 

“ Yes, I was there, an’ did the best I knew how 
to get ’em out, but it wasn’t any use. Better do 
your swimmin’ down by the Surf House, same’s the 
rest of us fellers.” 

The boys had stopped work while Joey was tell- 
ing his sad tale, and Spence had moved as if to 
resume the labor, when Aunt Hannah’s visitors 
appeared at the door of the cottage. 

“ The callers are goin’,” Matt said cheerily, “ an’ 
now we’ll know what Admiral J. has been tellin’ 
’em. Come up to the house an’ hear the news.’’ 

Aunt Hannah was on the narrow platform dig- 
nified by the name of veranda, watching her friends 
as they disappeared among the sand-dunes, when 
the boys came up, and from the expression on her 
face it could readily be understood that she was 
disturbed in mind. 


On Guard. 


59 


“ You’ve been havin’ lots of visitors, Aunt Han- 
nah,” Joey Pendleton said by the way of opening 
the conversation, as he seated himself on the door- 
step. 

“ What are you doin’ down here ? ” she asked 
abruptly, but not ungraciously. 

“ I’m goin’ to stay all night on board the wreck, 
to watch out for the Admiral,” Joey replied half 
apologetically. “ You see he’s been over to the 
village threatening what he’d do, an’ — ” 

“Spence’s father and Mr. Atwood thought it 
would be safer if somebody stayed on her for a 
while,” Matt interrupted. “ Spence has brought a 
lot of bed-clothes over from the hotel ; Joey’s mother 
says he can stay, an’ I want to be with ’em, Aunt 
Hannah. Can I ? ” 

“ I don't know as it is exactly safe, Matt dear,” 
and the expression of anxiety on Aunt Hannah’s 
face deepened. “ The Admiral has been makin’ 
terrible threats, an’ I’m afraid he’ll carry them out 
before he has time to think the matter over 
properly.” 

“ Then there’s all the more reason why we 
should look out for her,” and Spence pointed 
towards the wreck. “ To-morrow father is goin’ to 
buy an awning, so the visitors can sit in the shade, 
an’ we’re to have four or five settees. I’ve given 


60 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


Mr. Atwood my five dollars to purchase the things 
we count on selling, an’ of course it wouldn’t do 
for anything to happen to her now.” 

44 I wish j^ou an’ Matthew had never got sich a 
scheme into your heads, for I’m really afraid 
trouble will come of it. Admiral J. declares she's 
common property, an’ that he’ll destroy her rather 
than let you boys make money by usin’ her as a 
circus.” 

“ What do the Jordans think about it ? ” Matt 
asked eagerly. 

“ I shouldn’t be bound by their opinions any 
sooner than I would by the Turners’, but yet 
every one I have seen appears to think Admiral 
J. is actin’ foolishly.” 

“ Of course he is,” Spence said promptly ; 44 and 
you won’t make any objection to Matt’s sleeping 
on board, will you ? ” 

44 1 don’t see how you boys could stop the Ad- 
miral from doing as he likes.” 

44 Just let him try to destroy her, an’ he’ll find 
out ! ” Spence exclaimed, and, understanding that 
this was not the proper argument to gain Aunt 
Hannah’s consent, Matt added : — 

44 It ain’t likely he’d do anything when he found 
out there was folks on board. If he really counts 
on settin’ her afire, as he said in the village, he'd 


On Guard. 


61 


never be so wild as to take the chances of burnin’ 
ns up.” 

“ You mustn’t attempt to fight with him, Matt.” 

“ N — o, not — not exactly that, but we can 
warn him off if he comes around.” 

Spence appeared to have suddenly become deep- 
ly interested in a sun-dried star-fish on the sand, 
and moved a short distance away, hoping by such 
manoeuvre to prevent Aunt Hannah’s insisting on 
his promising to keep the peace in case Admiral J. 
came prowling around. He was determined to do 
battle manfully rather than allow what he con- 
sidered his property to be destroyed, but afc the 
same time he understood that if Aunt Hannah 
should believe anything of the kind might be 
possible, she would never consent to Matt’s re- 
maining on board all night. 

Fortunately, according to Spence’s way of 
thinking, the good woman did not consider it 
necessary to bind him with a promise, and after a 
brief argument she told Matt he might do as he 
chose ; but insisted that the three boys should 
have a “ decent ” supper at the cottage. 

“ What you brought from the hotel can be eaten 
during the evening,” she said, and, in obedience to 
a gesture from Matt, Spence consented to this 
slight change in the program. 


62 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


Aunt Hannah did not appear to think it neces- 
sary she should repeat to the boys what her 
visitors had told her regarding the Admiral’s 
threats, but Matt felt quite positive that both the 
Turners and the Jordans had advised his aunt to 
resist the little man’s claim of ownership in the 
wreck. 

The sun was yet two hours high in the heavens 
when supper had been served, and there was noth- 
ing to prevent the self-elected watchers from going 
to their post of supposed duty. 

Aunt Hannah would not venture upon the 
hulk, owing to her fear of being stricken with the 
“ rheumatiz ” ; but she stood near by on the shore 
while the boys convinced her they had an am- 
ple supply of blankets by holding each up in 
turn, and after this had been done the good woman, 
with many a caution to the watchers against ex- 
posing themselves unnecessarily to the night air, 
went slowly back to the tiny cottage. 

“ Now we’re in for it ! ” Spence exclaimed tri- 
umphantly, when they were alone. I didn’t 
promise not to fight in case that bow-legged 
Admiral came nosing around, neither did Joey, so 
I reckon he’ll have a tough job to get on board 
this craft.” 

“ Did your father say we had a right to prevent 
him from so much as cornin’ over the rail?” 


On Guard . 


63 


“ He told me to warn him off in your name, and 
then to threaten if he attempted to get on board.” 

“ Did he tell you to use force ? ” 

“Well, he didn’t say exactly that,” Spence re- 
plied, hesitatingly ; “ but it must have been what 
he meant. Now how shall we fix it about stand- 
ing watch? ” 

I guess we can go below for a spell, first. If 
the Admiral really counts on matin’ mischief he 
won’t come in broad daylight, an’ I’d like to get 
the cabin fixed up home-like before dark.” 

After a long look around to assure himself 
there were no evil-disposed persons in sight, Matt 
led the way into the cabin, and in less than ten 
minutes the “ housework ” was done. 

The blankets had been spread neatly in the 
widest berth ; the candles were laid out on a beam 
with a supply of matches close at hand ; the food 
brought from the hotel was placed where it would 
look most inviting, and then the watchers disposed 
themselves in more or less comfortable positions in 
the little cuddy to wait until it should be time to 
act the part of sentinel. 

Spence, who had been speculating upon what 
the boys told him of the undertow, inquired re- 
garding the dangers of this particular portion of the 
beach, with the result that Joey described once 
more the drowning of his friends. 


64 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

When that subject was finally dismissed because 
it was too mournful, Matt repeated the story as told 
him by Admiral J. of the murderous attacks of the 
Indians, a hundred years or more ago, along this 
yery shore, and when the details of the many mas- 
sacres had been given, the care-takers of the wreck 
were decidedly nervous. 

Spence proposed they should go on deck, and 
the others acted upon the suggestion with alacrity. 

Then Joey, eager to further entertain his friends, 
pointed out, on the road leading to the village, a 
certain gnarled, dying oak-tree, whereon, a century 
before, three Indians had been hanged for murder- 
ing four children, and insisted on telling the tale 
with as many blood-curdling accessories as he had 
ever heard, or could possibly invent. 

Spence no longer cared to remain on deck, for his 
eyes would persist in wandering toward that sinis- 
ter-looking tree despite all efforts to the contrary, 
and when at his invitation the little party had gath- 
ered in the cabin once more, all were in a most 
gloomy frame of mind. 

The sun was sinking behind the distant hills, and 
the shadows on the tiny cuddy took fantastic shapes 
which suggested certain incidents in the stories just 
repeated. 

The incoming tide had risen until it filled the 


On Guard. 


65 


hollows in the sand around the stern-post of the 
wreck, and was gurgling and sighing in a particu- 
larly doleful manner, while from every portion of 
the old hulk came noises well calculated to make 
a nervous hoy start in alarm. 

“ I never heard anything like this when I was 
down here before,” Spence said in a whisper, as he 
glanced furtively over his shoulder at the open 
companion-way. 

“ I reckon we wasn’t keeping as still as we are 
now,” Matt replied, in the same low tone. 

“ What is that swishing noise ? ” 

“ The tide’s cornin’ in.” 

“ How high up will it get ? ” 

“It won’t come over the floor now; but in a 
couple of weeks this cabin will be awash with 
water.” 

“ Don’t you think we’d better sleep on deck ? 
It won’t be cold, and then we’ll have a better 
chance to watch out for the Admiral.” 

“I ain’t sure hut I’d best go home,” Joey said 
as Spence rose to his feet. 

“ I thought your mother said you could stay here 
all night.” 

“ So she did ; but now I come to think of it, I’m 
’fraid she’ll be worried ’bout me.” 

“ Of course you can go if you want to,” Matt 


66 


Admiral J. of Spumvink. 


replied at lie hurried on deck without daring to 
look behind him. “ I reckon two of us will be a 
match for Admiral J.” 

“Will you fellers walk through the pines with 
me?” 

“We can’t do that, Joey, for somebody might 
come while we were ashore.” 

“ Then I guess I won’t go,” and Master Pendle- 
ton seated himself on the shattered rail, fixing his 
eyes upon the friendly gleam of light in Aunt Han- 
nah’s window as if the yellow glow was needed to 
animate his courage. 


CHAPTER Y. 

THREE ERRORS. 


V"T / HAT Joey Pendleton was alarmed, and with- 
\ I f out cause, was apparent to botli his com- 
^X ^ panions, but yet they did not make sport 
of his fears as they might have done at another 
time. 

It is probable that both Spence and Matt were 
as ill at ease as Master Pendleton, although neither 
would have been willing to admit it. Each did 
his best to appear as if he was not disturbed in 
mind, but neither wandered very far from the 
other ; it was as if all three preferred, just at that 
time, close companionship. 

There was a great deal of satisfaction to be found 
in the glow of Aunt Hannah’s light; but even as 
they watched it the flame was extinguished, and 
Matt whispered : — 

<fc She’s said her prayers, an’ gone to bed.” 

“ I suppose that’s what we’d better do,” Spence 
replied in what he intended should be a careless 

67 


68 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


tone, but yet he made no attempt to act upon his 
own suggestion. 

44 1 thought we was goin’ to stand watch,” Joey 
said after a brief pause. 

44 That’s what we came here for, but I don’t sup- 
pose there’s any need of all hands staying awake. 
We may as well take turns.” 

44 I’ll begin the work ; you and Matt may go to 
sleep if you can.” 

44 But it don’t seem just right to leave you up 
here alone, Joey.” 

44 If you don’t do it some one will have to go in- 
to the cabin by himself, an’ that’ll be worse than 
stayin’ here.” 

44 You’re right,” Spence said emphatically, but 
yet he did not appear inclined to go below. 44 Sup- 
pose all hands of us stay on deck ; it’ll be more 
sociable ? ” 

Spence’s companions were willing to act upon 
this suggestion ; but it was necessary all three 
should bring the bedding from the cabin, for neith- 
er member of the party seemed willing either to go 
below, or remain on deck, alone. 

The cuddy was black with the darkness of night ; 
strange noises apparently came from the hold ; the 
water gurgled and moaned in the most foolish fash- 
ion, and no one objected when Spence lighted a 
match before venturing down the narrow stairs. 


Three Errors. 


69 


Once in the cabin the watchmen wasted no time ; 
each grasped such articles as were nearest at hand, 
and then ran up the narrow stairway with all pos- 
sible speed. 

The twinkling stars seemed very friendly when 
the boys emerged, and Spence said with a sigh of 
relief, as he carried his share of the blankets as far 
as possible from the sinister-looking aperture that 
led below : — 

“ I need a good deal of air nights, and even if it 
should be a little cold up here, it’ll be more whole- 
some.” 

“ An’ by fixin’ it this way we’ll all be on hand 
in case the Admiral comes,” Matt added as he laid 
himself by Spence’s side, while Joey crept close to 
the former’s back, wishing he had been sufficiently 
wise to have secured a position between his com- 
panions, instead of on the outside. 

Now that they were covered with the blankets, 
and lying where they could see the stars, there 
seemed less reason for alarm, and during the next 
ten minutes the watchmen conversed in cheery 
tones. 

Then suddenly, sounding as if it had come from 
the very depths of the empty hold, could be heard 
what was neither more nor less than a moan, and a 
very ghostly one at that. 


70 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 


The hum of conversation ceased instantly ; Joey 
crept yet closer to Matt, who in turn crowded up- 
on Spence, and it has been said that the latter cov- 
ered his head with the blanket. 

While they might have counted ten the three 
remained silent and motionless, hardly daring to 
breathe, when the dreadful noise was heard again, 
this time so distinctly that it was as if the person 
or thing that uttered it had approached nearer. 

“ What is it?” Joey asked in the most timid of 
whispers, and one would have said from his tone 
that the tears were very near his eyelids. 

Spence gave no sign that he heard the question, 
while Matt simply replied by clasping Joey’s hand 
tightly. 

There was another interval of breathless silence, 
and again was heard the terrible sound. 

Now the boys were literally trembling with fear, 
and all might have leaped over the side in another 
moment to seek the protecting shelter of Aunt 
Hannah’s home, but for the fact that the splash of 
oars in the water told of human beings in the vicin- 
ity. 

“ Admiral J.’s coming ! ” Spence whispered as 
he quickly arose to a sitting posture, and one 
would have said from the sound of his voice that 
a possible visit from their enemy was most wel- 
come at that moment. 


. Three Errors. 


71 


Now that the silence had been broken Matt 
dared rise to his feet, and as he stood for an instant 
looking over the waters at a black object which rose 
and fell on the swell, the dreadful moaning came 
again from the yet more dreadful hold. 

Although he claimed the wreck as his own be- 
cause she had drifted ashore on his land, Matt no 
longer cared about holding possession, but with a 
stifled cry leaped over the rail, striking the shal- 
low water below with a mighty splash. 

Before the echoes of this noise had died away 
Spence and Joey joined their friend, leaving the 
hulk in the same manner, and causing the same 
commotion when they reached the water-covered 
sand. 

“ What’s the matter ashore there ? ” a voice cried 
from the approaching boat. 

No reply was made to this hail, but even though 
the watchmen were bewildered by their fears, they 
realized that the words had not been spoken by 
Admiral J. 

“ Ahoy on the wreck ! ” 

“ Ahoy there ! ” Matt replied after a brief pause, 
and his voice trembled so much that even Aunt 
Hannah would not have recogized it as his. 

“ What’s going on ? Is there any trouble ? ” 

“ Yes sir,” Spence cried emphatically, u there is 


72 Admiral J. of Spur wink. 

somebody in tlie bold of this wreck making a terri- 
ble time.” 

“Who is it?” 

“ I don’t know ; we didn’t hear the noise till a 
few minutes ago.” 

The boatman had evidently been resting on his 
oars as he asked the questions, for now the splash- 
ing of water could be heard again, and in a short 
time the bow of the craft grated on the sand, the 
noise sounding in the ears of the frightened boys 
like the sweetest music. 

“ Hello, why are } r ou standin’ knee-deep in the 
water?” the newcomer asked as he leaped ashore. 

“ I didn’t know we were,” Spence muttered as 
if half ashamed, and straightway he walked up on 
the beach a few feet beyond the reach of the tiny 
waves, followed by his fellow watchmen. 

“ Don’t you work over to the Surf House ? ” 
Matt asked a moment later as the stranger came 
so near that the boy could faintly distinguish his 
features in the gloom. 

“Yes, I’m in charge of the boats there, and was 
sent by one Qf the boarders to see if two boys 
who counted on sleeping aboard this wreck were 
all right.” 

“ It must have been father who sent you,” 
Spence cried in a tone of relief, “ and it’s lucky 
you came just as you did.” 


Three Errors. 


73 


“ What’s wrong ? What do yon mean when 
you say there’s somebody in the hold? 

“We mean just what we say,” Spence replied, 
grown very bold now assistance was near at hand. 
“ Keep quiet a moment, and you will hear the 
groaning.” 

It was not necessary to wait many seconds be- 
fore the noise was repeated, and the boatman 
waited until he had heard it a dozen times before 
he spoke. Then it was to say with a laugh : — 

“ You boys got so frightened that you jumped 
overboard, eh ? ” 

“ I was going ashore, and didn’t think about 
using the gangway,” Spence said hesitatingly, 
hardly caring to admit that he had been terrified. 
But Joey Pendleton was not so sensitive.” 

“ I was frightened for a fact,” he replied de- 
cidedly, “ an’ I’m scared now.” 

“Well, I’ll allow it ain’t calculated ‘to make 
any man feel really comfortable unless he knows 
just what causes it. I had to wait a spell before 
I could figger the thing out, but I’ve got it down 
fine now.” 

44 What is it ? ” Matt asked impatiently. 

“ The tide’s come in, the water is forcing its 
way through one of the splintered timbers where 
the sand most likely makes an air-chamber, and it’s 


74 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

an accidental contrivance something after the fash- 
ion of a whistling buoy. Watch the waves, and 
you’ll find that the noise is made when the third 
ripple — always the highest — comes in.” 

“ If that is true we should have heard it when 
we first came aboard,” Joey said, quite confident 
the boatman had made a big mistake, or was try- 
ing to claim credit for being more wise than really 
was the case. 

“ You didn’t hear it then because the tide was 
low v ; when the water got up to the hole in the 
timber it began, and it’ll stop after the hold is 
flooded. If you’ve got a light I can come pretty 
near pointing out the very spot,” and the man 
clambered on board.” 

The candles were lying on the deck where they 
had been dropped when brought from the cabin, 
and one of these was lighted, after which all the 
party leaned over the open hatch-way while the 
tiny flame was lowered the length of the man’s 
arm. 

“ There you are ! ” the boatman cried after a 
brief examination. “Watch near the poit side 
forward, and you’ll see a jet of water rise when 
the air is forced out.” 

Not until they heard the sound at the instant 
the thread of spray rose from the surface, could 


Three Errors . 


75 


the boys believe the visitor from the Surf House 
had given a true explanation of that which had 
alarmed them so greatly, and then Matt said em- 
phatically : — 

“ I’m ashamed of myself, an’ that’s a fact. Of 
course I knew there couldn’t be such thing's as 
ghosts ; but yet when I went over the rail it 
seemed certain there was somethin’ unearthly in 
this wreck.” 

“ Don’t you count on changing your clothes ? ” 
the stranger asked as he lighted another match 
that he might survey the boys whom he had saved 
from the danger of their own fears. 

“ I don’t know how we can do so without awak- 
enin’ Aunt Hannah, an’ that I wouldn’t be willin’ 
to do, ’cause she says she never sleeps very much 
during the rest of the night if she is roused jest 
after she has gone to bed.” 

“ Better do that than run the risk of catching 
cold. It will be chilly here before midnight, and 
wet clothes won’t help matters any.” 

“ I wouldn’t be willin’ to waken Aunt Hannah.” 

“ I’ll take you over to the Surf House an’ back, 
if one of you will pull an oar.” 

“ How long will you be gone?” Spence asked. 

“ We can row each way in fifteen mtnutes. How 
much longer you are away than that will depend 
upon the time you spend in the house.” 


76 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

u Suppose we go, Matt? I shall feel a good deal 
more comfortable with dry clothes on, and mother’ll 
find enough for you and Joey.” 

“ There’s no need of my going, for I’m often 
soaked like this, and, besides, I wouldn’t like to 
leave the wreck alone. You and Joey can make 
the trip, an’ I’ll stay here.” 

“Won’t you be afraid?” 

“Not much,” Matt replied with a cheery laugh. 
“ After makin’ a fool of myself once this evenin’, 
it ain’t likely I’ll play the same game over again.” 

Spence hesitated only because he did not think 
it fair to leave his partner alone ; but the latter in- 
sisted he was perfectly willing to remain, and 
finally the boys set out with the accommodating 
stranger, Master Richmond crying as the little craft 
glided away from the hulk : — 

“We’ll be back in less than half an hour, an’ 
you can amuse yourself by pitching into the pro- 
visions — I’ll bring more.” 

“ Stay as long as you like, for I’ll be all right.” 

Then Matt watched the rapidly disappearing 
boat until she was swallowed up by the darkness, 
after which he fell to pacing forward and aft in 
what he believed to be true nautical fashion, listen- 
ing to the moaning as it grew fainter and fainter, 
thus telling that the hold of the hulk was being 
filled with water. 



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Three Errors. 


11 


After this one fright, Matt assured himself he 
would never be nervous again without reasonable 
cause, and as a means of employing the time began 
speculating upon the amount of money he and 
Spence would make when the wreck was properly 
fitted up for the reception of visitors. 

He made mental note of many new things he 
would buy for Aunt Hannah with his earnings, 
chief among which was a “ real silk ” dress, and 
the longer he dwelt upon the possibilities the more 
positive was he that their profits during the sum- 
mer would be exceedingly large. 

“ It wouldn’t s’prise me a bit if I’d get enough 
to shingle the house an’ give it a new coat of paint. 
I’d lay in plenty to eat this winter, an’ could 
then go to school instead of hangin’ ’round Hewey’s 
store for jobs that don’t pay fifty cents a week. 
We’d fare mighty slim sometimes if I didn’t have 
the chance to do that, an’ it ain’t jest square to 
turn my nose up at what has given us bread many 
a time, jest ’cause I see a chance to earn more. 
Besides, it ain’t dead , certain the wreck will turn 
out to be as good a thing as I’m countin’ on, an’ I 
may be mighty glad to watch for the jobs before 
winter is over.” 

He came to a halt both in his walk and specu- 
lations, for at that instant he heard the sound of 


78 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


oars apparently in the distance, and there was no 
question in his mind but that Spence and Joey 
were returning. 

“ I didn’t think they’d got there yet,” he said to 
himself. 44 1 reckon Spence hurried ’cause he 
thought I’d be frightened. There ain’t no call for 
a feller to get scared if he’ll keep his mind off of 
foolish things, the way I’ve been doin’.” 

Then he seated himself on the combing of the 
open hatch, listening to the faint sound of the oars. 

44 They’re a long way off, an’ by the time the 
boat pulls up alongside I guess I’ll think they’ve 
been gone a full hour. 

During ten minutes he could distinguish the 
faint sound, and then it was as if it died away 
entirely. 

44 It wasn’t them after all,” he muttered, 44 an’ I 
might have known they couldn’t have gone there 
an’ back, if I’d stopped to think that I wasn’t walk- 
in’ the deck more’n ten minutes — ” 

Then he was startled by a slight shock as if the 
side of the hulk had been struck by a mallet, and 
then all was still. 

Save for the fact that he had foolishly allowed 
himself to be terrified by the whistling of the waves, 
he might have been alarmed now ; but he put all 
idea of fear from his mind, and would not even 
walk aft to learn what had caused the noise. 


Three Terrors. 


79 


Matt was making as grave a mistake now as he 
had an hour previous, for while acting the part of 
watchman it was his duty to know, or at least en- 
deavor to learn, the cause of every unusual sound. 

Therefore it was that he remained in ignorance 
of what was going on until, turning by chance to- 
ward the stern, he saw a man’s head rising above 
the rail. 

It was so dark he could not distinguish the fea- 
tures, but his first thought was that his compan- 
ions had returned, and were bent on trying his 
nerves once more. 

The deck-house, which was between him and 
the new-comer, partially screened him from view, 
and if Spence was creeping on board to frighten 
him, it might be some time before he could carry 
out his plan. 

“ The fellers think I’m in the cabin, an’ I’ll 
wait here till they creep down. Then perhaps it 
won’t be me who’ll get a scare.” 

He had no suspicion of the true state of affairs 
until the intruder had clambered upon the rail and 
stood outlined like a silhouette against the sky. 

Then it was as if his heart literally leaped into 
his throat, for the pair of bowed legs before him 
could be owned by none other than Admiral J. 

“ I stayed here to watch that he didn’t get aboard, 


80 


Admiral J. of Spurwink . 


an’ have been sittin’ on this combin’ like a chump, 
lettin’ him do as he liked,” Matt thought, and 
then came into his mind the fact that he was at a 
disadvantage. 

He could have prevented the little man from 
clambering on board with little difficulty ; but 
now that the enemy had accomplished so much 
unmolested, he was more than a match for the boy. 

Matt looked around quickly in the hope of see- 
ing something which would serve as a weapon, al- 
though he knew the decks were swept bare. On 
the outside, where they had been at work on the 
gangway, could be found an ample supply of clubs, 
and with a stout stick in his hand, Master Turner 
would have considered himself more than a match 
for the Admiral. 

But such weapons "were not for him, since he 
could not move without betraying himself to the 
visitor, and it seemed more than probable that 
Admiral J. would be able to do as he pleased. 

“ This is the second time to-night that I’ve made 
a fool of myself,” he muttered, “an’ it’s once too of- 
ten, for now that little wretch can come pretty 
nigh doin’ as he threatened.” 

The Admiral stepped cautiously down to the 
deck ; tip-toed to the companion-way, and stood 
for an instant in the attitude of a listener. 


i 


Three Errors. 


81 


He had probably expected Matt and liis part- 
ner would be there, but, hearing nothing, must 
have concluded he was alone on the wreck, for he 
ceased to move about cautiously, but went here 
or there boldly, without heed as to the noise he 
might make. 

Matt saw him take from his pocket something 
which had the appearance of a bottle, and this 
was followed by what might have been pieces of 
wood. 

The odor of kerosene rose on the air, and now 
the boy knew the Admiral was preparing to burn 
the wreck. 

Matt had but little hope that he could, unaided, 
prevent the man from carrying out his plan; but 
he did not intend to see that which he considered 
his property destroyed, without making every 
effort to prevent it. 

44 What are you about?” he cried suddenly, 
causing the little man to start in what was very 
like alarm. 44 You stand a good show of bein’ 
sent to jail for business like this.” 

For a single instant it appeared as if the Ad- 
miral was about to make his escape. He turned 
toward the rail, and had laid his hand upon it, 
much as though to leap over, when he must have 
suddenly understood who had spoken. 


82 Admiral J . of SpurwinJc. 

Then he wheeled around, and came rapidly 
toward Matt with a stick, or cane, upraised 
ready to strike. 

“ So you are here, eh ? ” he cried savagely. 
“ You thought you would keep me from doin’ as I 
threatened ? ” 

“ That’s what I’m here for, an’ we’ll see wheth- 
er you dare set fire to this wreck ! ” Matt cried, 
speaking as boldly as if he was well armed. Dare 
to so much as light a match, an’ I’ll knock the head 
off your shoulders ! ” 

The Admiral stepped back a few paces, and 
then seeing that Matt was empty-handed, rushed 
forward again to seize him. 

It was not a difficult matter for the boy to elude 
the little man, and he ran swiftly aft with no 
definite plan in mind until he saw the bottle of oil 
lying on the deck-house. 

Seizing this he turned quickly, intending to use 
it as a club ; but the Admiral was not to he caught 
napping. He stepped nimbly back that he might 
the better strike with his cane, and Matt cried : — 

“ I shall knock you down with this bottle if I 
get a chance, you sneak ! I promised Aunt Han- 
nah not to fight with you ; but she wouldn’t say a 
word against it if she knew what you was tryin* 
to do. Look out for yourself, I say! I’ll give 


Three Errors. 


83 


you two minutes to get over the rail, an’ if you’re 
not gone in that time I’ll do all the mischief I 
can.” 

Admiral J. made no reply, and Matt fancied he 
had suddenly grown alarmed. 

“I’ll promise not to strike while you’re goin’ 
over the side,” the boy cried, as he stepped back a 
pace, and lowered his impromptu weapon. 

This was the third error Matt had made since 
sunset, and was too serious to admit of being cer-, 
tified. 

When he gave way that the visitor might beat 
a retreat he laid himself open to an attack from 
the Admiral, who was not slow to take advantage, 
and before Matt had time to realize that his enemy 
was not doing as he had been bidden, the little 
man’s cane came down upon his head with such 
force that he was stricken to the deck, senseless. 


CHAPTER VI. 


FIGHTING FIRE. . 

PENCE had thought, when he left the 
/T^ wreck, that he should not remain at the 
^ * Surf House longer than fifteen minutes ; 

but after his arrival there the time passed more 
rapidly than he realized, and half an hour elapsed 
before he was ready to return. 

Neither he nor his companions fancied there was 
any necessity for rapid traveling. Strange as it 
may seem, he had no idea Admiral J. might at- 
tempt to work mischief that night, even though he 
and his partner were to spend the night on hoard 
the hulk for no other purpose than to guard against 
an attack. 

Both the boys had been fitted out with dry 
clothes, and, after a hearty lunch at the hotel, 
were feeling particularly cheerful. 

Spence’s father had said he did not believe the 
little man, however angry he was, would dare 
carry out the threats made, especially while 
watchers were on board the wreck, and this opin- 
84 


85 


Fighting Fire. 

ion was, to Spence at least, almost a guarantee 
that they would remain in undisturbed possession 
of the property. 

The boatman, who was well paid for his ser- 
vices, was willing to dispense with the assistance 
of his companions during the return trip, and the 
boys thoroughly enjoyed their ride over the rest" 
less waters. 

“I allow you an’ Matt will make a heap of 
money this summer out’erthat old hulk,” the man 
said, as he worked leisurely at the oars. “ It’s 
queer nobody else thought of turnin’ her to ac- 
count.” 

“Perhaps the idea wasn’t used because Matt had 
a better right to her than anybody else.” 

“An’ I allow he has, no matter what Admiral J. 
may say ; but it wouldn’t been a costly job to have 
bought Matt’s interest. I allow he’d sold out 
mighty cheap a week ago.” 

“And he may be willing to do so a week later, 
for it isn’t certain yet that we’ll get our money 
back.” 

“ I reckon there ain’t much fear. It seems as if 
the summer boarders had jest about gone wild 
over the idea of havin’ picnics on board. I’ve 
heard lots of ’em tellin’ what they’d do after you 
had her in shape for company. Them as never 


86 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


thought of lookin’ at the hulk before are nestlin’ 
’round terribly uneasy ’cause you haven’t got her 
in shape, an’ all on account of the threats the Ad- 
miral’s been makin’; he’s done you fellers a power 
of good while tryin’ to work harm.” * 

“ In what way ? ” 

44 By settin’ everybody to talkin’ — advertisin’ 
the show, so to speak.” 

44 1 expect he’ll be wild if we make a few dol- 
lars.” 

44 An’ much good it’ll do him. With a lawyer 
like your father to back you, an’ Mr. Atwood, who 
owns the biggest part of the property hereabouts, 
as your friend, I reckon the Admiral don’t stand 
much chance. If you rig up a few lanterns, an’ 
keep the show open evenings, it’ll bring me in a 
good bit of business, I’m tliinkin’.” 

44 We shall be ready for company as long as any 
one is willing to come,” Spence replied with the 
air of a proprietor, and then, pointing to a dark ob- 
ject ahead, he asked, 44 Is that the wreck?” 

44 Sure; we’re almost there, an’ I allow Matt 
thinks it’s high time. Why don’t you hail him? ” 
Spence acted upon the suggestion at once by 
shouting at the full strength of his lungs : — 

44 Ahoy on the wreck ! Ahoy ! A-h-oy ! ” 

There was no reply, and the boatman added his 


Fighting Fire. 


87 


voice to Spence’s until the watcher on the wreck 
must have been very deaf had he failed to hear the 
cries. 

“ Well, that’s what I call queer ! ” the man said 
half to himself as he pulled vigorously, and an in- 
stant later Joey Pendleton shouted excitedly: — 

“Look! Look there! Somebody’s goin’ over the 
rail!” 

The oarsman did not turn his head, but pulled 
yet harder at the oars, for Matt’s silence had given 
him good cause to believe some mischief was afoot. 

“Did yo u see anyone on the rail?” he asked, 
and Spence replied doubtfully : — 

“I’m not certain. Just as Joey shouted it 
seemed as if I could make out a shadow moving” — 

“ Don’t you s’pose I know anything when I see 
it?” Master Pendleton asked sharply. “It might 
have been Matt, who is tryin’ to give us a scare, 
but somebody went over the rail, an’ — There! 
Now you can see him in a boat!” 

“ Then it can’t be Matt, for he hasn’t a craft of 
any kind,” and a sensation of fear crept over 
Spence. 

Now the boatman ceased his efforts sufficiently 
long to turn his head, and that which met his gaze 
caused him to give vent to an exclamation of an- 
ger. 


88 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh . 


“ I can see some one now ! ” Spence shouted, and 
the man at the oars muttered angrily : — 

“It’s that sneak of an Admiral up to some trick, 
but he shan’t get off so easy, for if I can’t row 
around him I’ll never take up a pair of oars again.” 

“Are you countin’ on ketchin’ him?” Joey 
asked gleefully. 

“ That’s what I will do ’less something breaks. 
You two set still an’ keep your eyes on him, for he 
may try to double back on me. If I only had a 
rudder, so one of you could steer, this ’ere chase 
wouldn’t be a long one.” 

“ What will you do with him?” Joey asked, liter- 
ally trembling with the excitement of a chase that 
had as yet hardly begun. 

“ Take the sneak to the Surf House, an’ give 
Lawyer Richmond a whack at him.” 

“ There’s a glow on the wreck now ! ” Spence 
cried, “Matt must have heard us, and has lighted 
the candles so we’ll know which way to steer.” 

“ He’s been ’round here too long to believe any- 
thing in the shape of a light is needed on a bright 
night like this,” the oarsman said sharply. “ Hail 
him once more ! ” 

“Matt! Matt! Are you there ? ” 

No reply came, and in a few seconds latter Joey 
cried as he rose to his feet in excitement. 





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Fighting Fire. 


89 


“ It’s no candle-light! The wreck is afire, an’ that 
miserable Admiral has done what he said he 
would!” 

“But where’s Matt ?” Spence asked in perplex- 
ity, not realizing for the instant the full extent of 
the disaster which threatened. 

“ That’s what we’ve got to find out,” the oars- 
man said angrily, “though it rubs mightily agin 
the grain to let that little feller go scot free.” 

“ There won’t be any trouble about findin’ him 
to-morrow, an’ I hope Spence’s father will make 
him smart for what he’s done!” Joey exclaimed. 
“ The flames don’t show yet, so I reckon he didn’t 
start the fire till after we’d hailed the wreck.” 

The oarsman turned his head for a single instant 
to look, and said as he bent himself to his work : 

“ There’s a chance we may get there in time yet. 
I’ve got a big bailin’ dish, an’ the minute we come 
alongside we’ll go to work with it. Spence is to 
hunt for Matt, an’ Joey must get up to Miss Gor- 
don’s house an’ back with a couple of water-pails 
in the best time he can make. Stand ready to do 
as I’ve said, the minute we strike the hulk. When 
I drop the oars, Joey, you pick ’em up an’ pull the 
dory hard aground — you can wade when you come 
back!” 

The boat appeared to be literally leaping over 


90 


Admiral J. of Spur winlc. 


the waves under the impulse of the vigorous strokes, 
but yet to Spence it seemed as if she moved at a 
snail’s pace, so great was his anxiety. 

The fact that the task set him was to find Matt 
showed the boatman feared foul play, and he re- 
proached himself bitterly with having loitered at 
the hotel. 

“ If I’d done my duty,” he thought, “ we might 
have gotten here in time to prevent all this, for I 
could have left fifteen minutes earlier without neg- 
lecting anything.” 

“The flames show plainer now,” Joey cried, his 
voice trembling. “ The fire is in the cabin, an’ I 
don’t allow you can do much in the way of puttin’ 
it out.” 

“ There is a chance if you attend to your part of 
the work in season. Luckily it’s high water, and 
the wood-work of the cabin can’t be very dry. If 
you find Matt, Spence, turn to an’ help me, unless 
he’s hurt badly.” 

“What makes you think lie’s hurt?” Joey 
asked, sharply.” 

“ I don’t allow he’s run away from the Admiral, 
an’ unless somethin’ serious had happened he’d 
answered our hail. Stand ready to fend off, 
Spence, and give me the word when to stop pul- 
lin’.” 


Fighting Fire. 


91 


Master Richmond took his station in the bow, 
and watched intently the rapidly brightening glow 
which was beginning to illuminate the deck. 

The little craft was bounding over the waters 
as if conscious that speed was required of her, 
reeling from side to side when buffeted by a wave, 
and sending the spray high above her bow. The 
boatman held her steadily to the course, guided 
now and then by orders from Joey, and finally the 
race was over. 

It was beyond the boy’s power to prevent the 
dory from striking the side of the hulk with such 
force that she was hurled back several yards ; but 
the oarsman, anticipating such a movement, pulled 
her forward again, and Spence clutched the rail. 

Joey had hardly time to seize the oars before 
his companions had leaped upon the wreck, and 
then he rowed to the beach, putting resolutely 
from his mind all thoughts save that of perform- 
ing his portion of the work most expeditiously. 

Before one could have counted twenty he was 
on shore, running at full speed toward the house, 
shouting loudly as he ran : — 

“Aunt Hannah ! Aunt Hannah ! Fire ! Fire !” 

The door of the cottage was opened before he 
gained the veranda, and, seeing a figure clad in 
white standing on the threshold, he cried, without 
slackening his pace : — 


92 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 


“ We want buckets. Quick ! ” 

Aunt Hannah did not waste valuable time by 
asking questions, and Joey had but just gained 
the door-way when the desired articles were thrust 
into his hands. 

Meanwhile Spence and the boatman were doing 
their best to deaden the flames. 

The former saw his partner lying on the deck, 
apparently lifeless, as he leaped over the rail, but 
before he could stoop to raise him up, Matt asked, 
in a tone of bewilderment : — 

“ Has the Admiral gone ? ” 

“ Yes, and the wreck’s on fire. Are you hurt 
much? ” 

“ Never mind about me ; I’m all right ; ” and 
Matt staggered to his feet, looking ghastly in the 
ruddy glow, with blood streaming down his 
cheeks. 

The boatman was working rapidly with the bail- 
ing dish, but it was apparent that his efforts would 
be of no avail unless means of bringing a larger 
quantity of water could be obtained.” 

“ Jump ashore and help Joe}',” the boatman 
cried, as Spence and Matt ran aft. “ There’s a smell 
of kerosene here, and I reckon we’ve got a bigger 
contract than I figgered on.” 

Spence darted forward, and had but just gained 
the bow, when from the shore Joey shouted : — 


Fighting Fire . 


93 


“ Ketch these pails, an’ I’ll go back for rope. 
You can’t reach the water from the deck.” 

“ Come back an’ pass it up to us,” the boatman 
shouted. “ The hulk would be a blaze before 
you’d put ropes to the buckets. 

Joey dashed into the water manfully, and, 
standing waist deep by the side of the hulk, filled 
and passed up the pails as rapidly as Spence and 
the boatman could carry them aft. 

Even this supply of water would not have been 
sufficient, but fortunately Aunt Hannah appeared 
on the scene at the instant with two more buckets. 

“ You must come and get ’em, Joey, for I shall 
have the rheumatiz, certain, if I get my feet wet. 
As it is, it seems like temptin’ Providence to come 
out here only half-dressed.” 

By the time Joey had these additional imple- 
ments in his possession, Matt had so far recovered 
from the bewilderment caused by the blow on his 
head as to be able to do his share of the work, and 
a plentiful supply of water was soon being poured 
into the cabin. 

“ We’ve got the upper hands now,” the boatman 
cried cheerily, as he darted to and fro. “ The fire 
is bound to burn as long as the oil lasts, but I 
reckon we can keep it from doin’ much damage. 
It’s all right, Miss Gordon,” he added, raising his 


94 


Admiral J. of Spurwink . 


voice ; “ you can get in out of the night air ; but 
I reckon you’d better not go to bed yet a while.” 

“As if I’d think of doin’ sich a thing ! ” Aunt 
Hannah exclaimed, indignantly ; but she followed 
the friendly advice without loss of time. 

Ten minutes later the flames were so nearly sub- 
dued that the fire-fighters might well afford to work 
more leisurely, and Spence could not restrain his 
curiosity longer. 

“Did the Admiral and you have a regular pitched 
battle, Matt ? ” 

“ He did most of the battlin’, I reckon,” was the 
grim reply. “ I don’t know much about it after 
the fuss began.” 

Then Matt told in detail all that had occurred, 
and when he concluded Spence said angrily : — 

“Admiral J. shall suffer for this night’s work ! 
It’s nothing more nor less than an attempt at mur- 
der.” 

“ I don’t s’pose he thought there was any chance 
of killin’ me with his cane.” 

“ But you might have been burned to death if 
we hadn’t arrived just as we did. He left you 
senseless, with the wreck on fire.” 

“ But he knew you fellers were cornin’.” 

“ Look here, Matt, it seems as if you was tryin’ 
to excuse that little wretch.” 


Fighting Fire. 


95 


“ I ain’t, Spence, but I don’t want to make him 
out worse than he really is. I can’t think the Ad- 
miral would try to murder anyone.” 

“ He came mighty near doing it, at all events, 
and we’ll see wdiat father has to say about it.” 

“ If I hadn’t been obleeged to stop here on ac- 
count of the fire, I’d have settled matters with the 
bow-legged Admiral in sich a fashion that he’d 
never tried to play the same trick again. As it is, 
I’m countin’ on takin’ a trip over to his house on 
my own account.” 

“ It isn’t likely you'd find him there, and I 
think father should know at once what has been 
done.” 

“ Perhaps you’re right, an’ seein’s how there’s 
no need of my stoppin’ here any longer, I’ll pull 
over to the hotel before the folks go to bed. 
Matt better go home an’ let Aunt Hannah tie 
up his head, but you other fellows must stay on 
board till the last drop of oil is burned out. A 
couple of buckets now an’ then will do the work, 
an’ in half an hour from this time there’ll be no 
danger.” 

As he spoke the man leaped over the bow, 
waded ashore to where his dory had been left by 
Joey, and was pulling rapidly away before either 
of the boys appeared to think it necessary to thank 
him for his timely assistance. 


96 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


The little craft was disappearing in the dark- 
ness when Matt exclaimed, as if but just aware of 
what had been done : — 

“We’ve let him go off without sayin’ a word! ” 
“ And if he hadn’t been with us the wreck 
would be past all help by this time,” Spence add- 
ed. 44 Neither Joey nor I could have rowed as 
fast, and there wasn’t many minutes to spare 
when we got here. 44 I’ll see him to-morrow, 
though, and he shan’t be soiyy he did us such a 
good turn. Why don’t you go to the house now, 
Matt, and let Aunt Hannah fix you up? You look 
as though you’d been through two or three wars.” 

44 There’s no need of being in a hurry, an’ I 
want to make certain the fire is all out before I 
leave.” 

44 Don’t your head hurt ? ” 

44 It aches pretty bad.” 

44 Then go home, Joey and I’ll attend to the 
work here, and it would serve us right if we had 
to lug water all night, for if we’d hurried a little 
instead of loafing around the hotel, Admiral 
J. wouldn’t have had time to do all this.” 

44 1 don’t believe much harm has been done.” 

44 Neither do I, but we shall know all about it 
very soon, for the fire is the same as extinguished. 
Go to Aunt Hannah, and I’ll come up as soon as it 
is safe to leave here.” 


Fighting Fire . 


97 


Matt obeyed his partner, for the wound on his 
head was causing him more pain than he was 
willing to admit, and when he entered the house 
he found Aunt Hannah, fully dressed, evidently 
preparing a meal. 

“ Ain’t gettin’ breakfast, are you ? ” he asked 
with an attempt to speak cheerily, but failing 
most seriously. 

“ Mercy sakes alive ! What is the matter, Mat- 
thew? What has happened ? You look as if you 
had been killed ! ” 

“I reckon if it had been anything like that I 
wouldn’t be walkin’ around as lively as this. 
Admiral J. struck me with his cane before he set 
the wreck on fire.” 

“Did that little, loud-mouthed — but there, 
I’m forgettin’ all my good intentions almost as 
soon as they were made. I won’t call the wicked 
man names : but it does seem as if I must say 
something ! Tell me how it happened, Matt, dear, 
and I promise not to let my temper get the best 
of me very soon again.” 

“ You can’t say anything too hard against the 
Admiral, Aunt Hannah, an’ I think this is a 
case when we’ve got the right to be mad.” 

“We haven’t forgiven him once yet, and we’re 
told that we should do so seventy times seven — 


98 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“ I’d be dead for certain long before we could 
forgive him half them times, Aunt Hannah, if he 
should come at me the same way very often.” 

“ We’ll hope the poor man didn’t realize what 
he was doin’. ” 

“Well, I had a pretty fine idea before he got 
through, an’ he’ll be a good deal smarter than I 
think he is, if he gets another such a chance at 
me.” 

While talking, Aunt Hannah had been making 
ready to dress Matt’s wounds, and once she began 
there was no conversation indulged in, for a favor- 
ite rule of hers, which she often repeated both in 
and out of season, was : — 

“ Do one thing at a time, an’ do that with your 
whole mind.” 

“ There,” she said in a tone of satisfaction, after 
what had seemed to the patient like a very long 
while, “ I guess you’re fixed up till to-morrow 
mornin’. When it’s light I can see to do more.” 

“I should say I was fixed up for a month,” Matt 
cried, as he surveyed himself in the glass. “ What 
was the use of tyin’ my whole head up when I had 
only one cut, an’ that nearly on top ? ” 

“ There are none too many bandages, Matthew, 
none too many, so we won’t discuss it.” 

“ But, Aunt Hannah, this cloth goes over one of 


Fighting Fire. 99 

my eyes, an’ surely there’s no need of anything 
like that.” 

“ You don’t know whether there is or not, Mat- 
thew Archibald. That eye is nearest the cut, an’ 
if you should get cold, inflammation is liable to set 
in all over your face.” 

“ But there’s no need of bundlin’ me up till the 
inflammation comes.” 

“ Matthew Archibald Turner, when you know 
as much about nursin’ as I do, you can object to 
what’s been done, but not till then. I don’t think 
there’s any danger you’ll get cold now, so you may 
invite your friends in for something to eat.” 

Matt knew thoroughly well that when his aunt 
called him by his full name she would not 
listen to an argument; but yet he ventured to 
suggest that Spence and Joey could not be very 
hungry at such an early hour in the evening. 

“ Boys are always ready for something to eat, or 
else their natures have changed since I went to 
bed. I dare say that city lad and Joey Pendleton 
are wet as drownded rats.” 

“ They went to the hotel after dr}^ clothes, but 
I guess everything is soaked again, for we lugged 
water mighty lively for a spell.” 

“ Joey won’t come to any more harm because of 
it than you will ; but a boy who has always lived 


100 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

in the city must be coddled more’n others, so you’d 
better call ’em in.” 

“Are you goin’ to tie up Spence’s head, too ? ” 
Matt asked, with a laugh. 

“ I shall give him a full pint of composition tea, 
an’ that, I guess, is all that’ll be needed.” 

“ Yes, and more too, if Spence has any say about 
it,” Matt muttered laughingly, as he went out of 
the house. 

The fire had been extinguished when Master 
Turner stood on the deck of the ruined schooner 
once more, and his friends were indulging in a 
needed rest. 

At first both thought it would not be wise to 
accept Aunt Hannah’s invitation, lest Admiral J. 
should return ; hut Matt finally convinced them 
there was no danger anything of the kind would 
happen so soon after the first attempt, and in a few 
moments Spence was literally forced to swallow 
the hot mixture prepared for him, much to the 
amusement of both Matt and Joey. 


CHAPTER VII. 

BUSINESS. 

T""\ OT until Aunt Hannah had seen Spence 
IVy swallow the last drop of tea did she take 
JL X her eyes from him, and then} observing that 
he had grown restless under her steady 
gaze, she said in an explanatory tone : — 

u It ain’t safe to let a boy out of sight a single 
minute while you’re tryin’ to do ’em good. Last 
winter, when Matt had a bad cold, I made him a 
full quart of composition tea, an’ left him alone 
with it in this very room. When I come back 
every drop was gone, and I was suspicious that he 
hadn’t swallowed it all, for it’s a master job to make 
him take medicine of any kind. Howsomever, 
Matt with all his faults is a truthful boy, an’ I soon 
made him confess that he’d poured more’n half of 
the tea out of the window.” 

“ So he got clear from takin’medicine that night,’’ 
Spence said with a laugh. 

44 Indeed he did not,” was the emphatic reply. 

101 


102 Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 

“ I made more, and saw to it that he drank three 
pints before he went to bed.” 

“ He must have been well cooked by that time. T 
haven’t taken more than a third as much, and it 
seems as if I was on fire inside.” 

“ That’s exactly what you need to drive away a 
cold, an’ you must be sure to tell your mother 
about it, for there’s nothin’ like a good dose of 
composition tea for children. Now I’ll find some 
dry clothes for you to put on. Matt never has but 
one decent suit at a time ; but I guess there are 
old duds enough somewhere around the house to 
fit you all out.” 

An odd-looking party it was indeed when Aunt 
Hannah had concluded her task of “ dressing them 
up.” Spence was allowed to wear Matt’s best 
clothes ; Joey had on a pair of overalls, , a cardigan 
jacket, and, as a hat, an old “ sou’wester,” while 
Matthew Archibald was arrayed in a well worn 
suit of oil-skins, the bandages on his head serving 
in lieu of a head-covering. 

“Now I allow you won’t take cold, whatever else 
you do, an’ I’m goin’ to bed. It’ll be the greatest 
kind of a mercy if I don’t get up in the mornin’ 
regularly crippled with the rheumatiz. I don’t sup- 
pose it would be of any use to ask you to let the 
wreck take care of herself till daylight, for boys 


Business . 


103 


always will be headstrong, an’ I can only hope 
nothin’ more’ll happen.” 

“ Of course we must stand watch, Aunt Hannah.” 

“ You think you must, so it amounts to the same 
thing. Where do you count on sleepin’ ? ” 

“We shall sit up all night,” Spence said decid. 
edly. 

“ I guess you’ll be willin’ to crawl in somewhere 
before daylight, so I’m going to leave the house- 
door unlocked. Here’s a good supper on the table, 
an’ you can eat it when you get hungry.” 

Then Aunt Hannah went to her chamber, and 
the boys were left to their own devices. 

During the next hour they remained on the deck 
of the wreck keeping a careful watch for Admiral 
J. ; but when sixty minutes elapsed and nothing 
had been heard from the enemy, the sentinels de- 
cided they were hungry, and returned to the cot- 
tage for a lunch. 

After they had eaten all that was good for them, 
and perhaps considerably more, Spence seated him- 
self in Aunt Hannah’s rocking chair to “see if it 
was comfortable,” and in less than five minutes 
was sleeping soundly. 

Then Joey sat down in the corner with his head 
against the wall, assuring Matt he was “ only rest- 
in’,” and had hardly assumed this semi-comfort- 


104 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

able position before he too was in the land of 
dreams. 

Matt felt positive it was his duty to remain on 
the alert, and proceeded to do so by sitting on the 
veranda where he could keep the old hulk in view, 
and in a few moments later he decided he could 
perform his duty quite as well by lying down. 

Before midnight the reign of slumber was heavy 
upon all that portion of the Spurwink shore, and 
had Admiral J. been able to perform such a feat, 
he might have carried away both the wreck and 
the cottage without interference. 

Not until Aunt Hannah came down stairs next 
morning were either of the “ watchers ” aroused, 
and then Matt sprang to his feet in alarm. 

“ Why, it’s sunrise, an’ I’ve slept all night! ” 

“An’ you’re jest so much better off for the rest,” 
Aunt Hannah said, placidly. “ The wreck hasn’t 
been carried away, and I guess you won’t hear 
anything from the Admiral for quite a spell. He 
must be ashamed of himself by this time.” 

“ I hope Spence’s father will make him feel 
somethin’ more than shame,” Matt cried, angrily. 

Aunt Hannah appeared really pained that the 
boy should allow revengeful thoughts to come into 
his mind, and during ten minutes or more she 
pleaded the Admiral’s cause. 


Business. 


105 


44 1 know he tried to do you a deal of harm, 
Matt, dear ; but you must forgive him. He is old 
and crotchety, an’ you should make all allowances 
for him. I was so wicked as to get angry last 
night when I saw what he did ; but I hope I’m in 
a different frame of mind this mornin’. I’m cer- 
tain the Admiral is sorry for what he has done, an’ 
I want you to promise me you’ll treat him in a 
Christian-like spirit.” 

44 That old wretch oughter be put in jail ! ” 

It was a long while before the good woman 
could induce Matt to accept her view of the mat- 
ter ; but before she had finished dressing his wound 
— which did not look as badly in the sunlight — 
he had agreed not to exact reprisals for the previ- 
ous night’s work. 

Then Aunt Hannah kissed him, as she had done 
every morning since he could remember, and as 
she set about getting breakfast, moving softly lest 
she should awaken Spence and Joey, Matt mut- 
tered to himself : — 

44 She’s too good to live ’round here, an’ that’s a 
fact. I wouldn’t a’ thought I’d ever promise to let 
the Admiral go without doin’ somethin’ to square 
accounts ; but I’d almost rather he burned the 
wreck than for me to do what’ll make her feel 
bad.” 


106 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 


When the other occupants of the cottage awak- 
ened breakfast was ready, and, since no mischief 
had been done while they slept, the boys decided 
it was much more comfortable to do as they had 
done than stand watch on the deck of the hulk. 

After the morning meal had been eaten Matt 
and Spence set about finishing the gangway, while 
Joey cleaned the cabin to the best of his ability, 
and all were yet busily engaged when the baggage- 
wagon from the Surf House was driven down to 
the beach. 

Mr. Atwood and the boatman who had been of 
so much assistance the night previous were the new 
arrivals, and the former said, as he descended from 
the high seat : — 

“ So you managed to keep Admiral J. at a 
respectful distance after his first visit, eh ? ” 

“ I don’t think he came around here again, sir,” 
Spence replied, with an expressive wink in the 
direction of his comrades, as if to say there was no 
necessity for confessing that they had been sleep- 
ing instead of watching. 

“ Were you hurt very much, Matt?” 

4 ‘No, sir. My head is cut a little, but it don’t 
seem to ’mount to anything. I guess the Admiral 
will keep away from us now.” 

“ If he is wise he will. I have just come from 
his house.” 


Business. 


107 


“ Did you see him, sir ? ” 

“ No, and judging from appearances, he didn’t 
sleep there last night. I fancy he realizes that he 
went too far when he assaulted you. I have 
brought the goods Spence ordered me to buy, and 
what’s more, have here the settees and the awning 
Mr. Richmond wished — found one ready-made 
which will fill the bill, I reckon ; the seats are 
new. Dan Fernald shall stay and put the canvas 
in place.” 

The boatman was already unloading the goods 
from the wagon, and on being thus referred to 
said, with a smile : — 

“ It begins to look as if I oughter be one of the 
partners in this ’ere scheme, seein’ that I’m likely 
to do most of the work.” 

“And that is what Mr. Richmond has paid you 
for doing. I will send some one around with a 
boat just before dinner-time, and the wreck should 
be in proper shape before then.” 

“ It’s well for Admiral J. that he wasn’t at home 
when we got there,” Dan Fernald said, as Mr. 
Atwood drove away. “ I allow he’d be the sickest 
bow-legged man in Spurwink if the landlord had 
got hold of him.” 

“ What would have been done ? ” Spence asked 
curiously, as he began an inspection of the goods 
left on the beach. 


108 


Admiral J. of Spunvink. 


“ That’s what I can’t say for certain, hut I’ll go 
bail there wouldn’t been much need of calling on 
the law to square the work of last night, for Mr. 
Atwood was proper mad.” 

“Improperly mad, Aunt Hannah would say,” 
Spence added, with a laugh. “Is that the awning, 
Dan?” 

The boatman was overhauling what looked like 
a huge bag, and not until he had finished the in- 
spection did lie reply. 

“ Yes, this ’ere’s the awnin’, an’ I allow I’ve got 
pretty considerable of a job to get it into shape 
before dinner-time.” 

“ How can we assist you ? ” 

“ By stickin’ at your own work, you two ; I’ll 
get on with what Joey Pendleton may contrive in 
the way of help. ” 

It was necessary something should be built on 
which the wares could be spread for the inspection 
of intending purchasers, and the two partners were 
soon hard at work on this portion of the task, 
while Dan Fernald and Joey Pendleton tugged 
and hauled at the canvas to get it in proper place. 

The boat had not yet arrived from the Surf 
House when the young showmen were ready to 
receive their patrons, and there was good reason 
why they should be satisfied with the result of 
their labors. 


Business 


109 


Thanks to Dan Fernald the awning was up 
without a wrinkle, covering the wreck from abaft 
the main hatch to the stern-rail, and stretching 
several feet outboard on either side, while, in the 
coolest and most inviting-looking spots, the settees 
were placed. 

Midway between the hatch and the deck-house 
was a rude table on which were exposed their 
wares, and the partners were thoroughly sur- 
prised that such an amount could have been pur- 
chased with five dollars. 

Mr. Atwood had selected a variety of fruits in 
small quantities, nuts, a limited supply of candy, 
and an assortment of sea-shells. 

It was this last item that caused Matt both sur- 
prise and dissatisfaction. 

44 What’s the use of puttin out good money for 
such stuff as that?” he asked in a tone of con- 
tempt as Spence arranged the goods in the most 
tempting manner. 44 We can get the same kind 
of truck without payin’ a dime, an’ I don’t believe 
folks would give us a cent apiece for the whole 
lot.” 

44 Mr. Atwood should know whether there 
would be any sale for shells, and if there are 
plenty here to be had for the gathering, we can 
spend our spare time laying in a stock.” 


110 Admiral J. of Spurivink. 

“I could load Dan Fernald’s dory with shells 
jest like ’em,” Joey said after a critical exami- 
nation of the goods. 

“Go ahead and do it. I’ll run the risk of giv- 
ing you a cent for every whole one you can bring 
in,” Spence replied, determined to show his faith 
in the landlord’s judgment. “ What do you think 
of it, Dan?” 

“ My idee is that summer boarders will buy en- 
amost anything that’s wuthless, an’ they’ll he sure 
to lay in a stock when sich truck is bought outer a 
reg’lar wreck. Jethro Atwood ain’t any fool 
when it comes to knowin’ what’ll sell, an’ you can 
make certain he didn’t throw your money away. 
Joey here won’t load a very big boat with whole 
shells, even if he works hard all summer, for they 
ain’t to be found so easy.” 

“ I know where there’s more’n a million bush- 
els ! ” Master Pendleton replied emphatically. 

“ Then set about pullin’ ’em in. Spence will 
pay a cent apiece, an’ I’ll give you an even dollar 
when you show up half a bushel as good as these.’’ 

Dan was so positive perfect shells could not be 
found readily, or in large quantities, that Matt be- 
gan to think he might have made a mistake in 
looking upon this portion of their stock as unsal- 
able. 


Business. 


Ill 


At all events he was decidedly pleased with the 
awning, and knew full well that the entire collec- 
tion of goods made a very business-like display ; 
therefore he felt that it would be a comparatively 
small matter if the purchase of shells had been 
unwise. 

“ Now we’ll have to stay on board all the time,” 
he said as he walked slowly around the booth, ad- 
miring it from every point of view. “Of course 
Ave can’t take all this stuff ashore every night, an’ 
it Avouldn’t do to leave it, even if somebody 
chained the Admiral, for there are folks in Spur- 
Avink Avho might be Avillin’ to lug off Avhat Avasn’t 
theirs.” 

“ That’s just Avhat I’ve been thinking about 
since we began putting up the counter. We must 
fix up the cabin, so’s Ave can sleep there.” 

The arrival of the boat from the Surf House 
put an end to the conversation, and Avhen Dan 
Fernald took his departure Avith the promise to 
“pull ’round that evenin’ an' see if everything* 
was runnin’ smooth,” Matt announced his inten- 
tion of going ashore. 

« I’ll try to coax Aunt Hannah aboard. I 
want her to see this lay-out while it’s fresh, an’ af- 
ter she’s been here I reckon she won’t think our 
scheme is sich a Avild one.” 


112 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

“ Go ahead ; Joey and I’ll stay here cleanin’ up, 
for I expect we’ll have lots of customers this 
afternoon.” 

Matt was absent not more than ten minutes, 
and when he returned his companions understood 
that he had been unsuccessful in his mission. 

“ I ain’t certain but she’ll be over towards night, 
though she didn’t promise for certain, ’cause she’s 
terrible ’fraid ’bout ketchin’ the rheumatiz. Din- 
ner’s all on the table, an’ you an’ Joey are to go 
straight over to the house. Somebody must stay 
here, and after you come back I’ll get my share 
of the grub.” 

Spence was so positive patrons would arrive 
early that he would not leave the wreck until he 
and his partner had decided upon the prices which 
should be charged for the various articles, and, 
that done, he called out warningly as he went 
down the gangway : — 

“ Don’t let anybody in without paying, Matt, an’ 
keep your eyes open to make sure the folks ain’t 
cheating you if they buy anything.” 

Once alone on the wreck, Matt paced to and fro 
under the awning, proud in the thought that he 
was an equal partner in an enterprise which looked 
as promising as this one. 

When the scheme first came into his mind he 


Business. 


113 


had no hope the old hulk could be made to look so 
inviting, because he had no capital to invest. Now, 
however, there were many reasons why the summer 
boarders would want to come on board, aside from 
the fact that she was a wreck, and success seemed 
certain. 

He almost forgot that there was such a person 
as Admiral J. in Spurwink, and when he gave the 
little bow-legged man a passing thought, it was 
with the conviction that no more trouble need be 
feared from him. 

“ I ought to make enough to keep us all winter, 
an’ buy Aunt Hannah a real silk dress into the 
bargain. I’ll be able to tend out on school in good 
shape, instead of spendin’ the time tryin’ to earn a 
nickle or a dime, an’ by next spring I’ll cook up 
another scheme that’ll show as fine as this one.” 

' He was interrupted in his pleasing reveries by 
the sound of voices from the beach, and, looking 
over the rail, saw three ladies gazing inquiringly 
toward the hulk. 

“Yes, we’ve got a show here,” he cried as if 
answering a question. “ Now’s the chance to come 
on board a real wreck for only ten cents, an’ you 
Gan stay all the afternoon if you like, without pay- 
in’ anything extra.” 

The strangers laughed at his earnest appeal, but 


114 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

since they came on board, each paying him ten 
cents, he was perfectly willing to be the temporary 
object of their mirth. 

Business had begun even earlier than he ex- 
pected, and he lopked at the silver so admiringly 
as to almost forget the booth and its stock of 
dainties, until he heard one of the visitors ex- 
claim : — 

u What lovely shells ! How much do you ask 
for them, little boy? ” 

Matt was sorry they should call him, one of the 
owners of the “ show,” a little boy, but he hurried 
forward, wondering whether or not they might 
think him foolish when he stated the price which 
Spence had decided should be put upon the arti- 
cles. 

“ The large ones are fifteen cents apiece, an’ the 
small ones ten. It ain’t very often you can buy 
such things offer a real wreck.” 

44 Indeed it isn’t, and these are just the right size 
for painting. We must have a picture of the ves- 
sel on each, and it would be a pity if the showman 
was omitted in the sketch.” 

Matt did not understand what the lady meant, 
but his brown eyes opened wide with astonishment 
when she selected six of the largest, and handed 
him one dollar. 


Business . 


115 


It began to be apparent that Mr. Atwood knew 
better than the partners did what goods visitors 
would purchase. These patrons had not so much 
as looked at the candy and peanuts, but bought 
shells such as could be found almost anywhere on 
the beach, at what he thought a ridiculously ex- 
travagant price. 

“ Six at fifteen cents ? ” he said to himself, and 
then his cheeks grew crimson with shame as he 
realized that it would be necessary to figure the 
amount out with the stub of a pencil he had in his 
pocket, for as a mental problem it was wholly be- 
yond him. 

“ Don’t you know how much six times fifteen 
are?” 

44 I can’t tell you straight off,” Matt replied hesi- 
tatingly; but if you’ll wait a minute I’ll have it 
figured out.” 

44 Ninety cents is the amount, and I want ten 
cents out of my dollar. How old are you, my little 
man?” 

Matt felt more at ease when the lady called him 
a “ little man,” and answered promptly : — 

44 Fourteen, marm.” 

“ And can’t tell without figuring, how much six 
times fifteen are?” 

44 1 ought’er know for a fact ; but boys down 


116 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


, here in Spurwink don’t get as much schoolin’ as 
fellers in the city. I’ll be all right, though, if this 
show does a good business.” 

“ In what way do you mean ? ” 

“ I can go to school all winter, you see, ’cause I 
won’t have to be layin’ ’round lookin’ for jobs.” 

“ Haven’t you any parents ? ” 

“ Only one, an’ that’s Aunt Hannah, but she’s 
as good to me as if she was my mother. Here’s 
the ten cents change, an’ I thank you for buyin’ the 
shells.” 

It was evident the ladies wished to talk further 
with the young showman ; but at that moment a 
party of half a dozen pleasure-seekers appeared at 
the gangway, and Matt was forced to attend to 
them. 

A few moments later Spence arrived, looking 
exultant. 

“ I saw the crowd beginning to come, and hurried 
over before I got half through eating. Aunt Han- 
nah says she don’t believe there are any more fool- 
ish people in Spurwink, but if it should turn out 
that there are, and they keep coming our way, she’ll 
bring us down a lunch. Say, I’m counting on pay- 
ing for my meals ; I don’t want her to think I’m 
trying any sponging game.” 

“ She wouldn’t take money for what little you 
eat.” 


Business. 


117 


“ She’ll have to, or I’ll bring my meals over from 
the hotel. Here come a crowd up the beach, and 
I’m as certain as I can he that we’ll do a rushing 
business to-day.” 

“ If it happens so you look out for the shop, an’ 
I’ll see that nobody comes over this rail without 
paying. I sold ninety cents’ worth of shells.” 

Spence had no opportunity to comment on the 
cheering information, for several ladies had gath- 
ered around the booth, and it was necessary a sales- 
man should be in attendance. 

From that hour until four o’clock in the after- 
noon patrons continued to arrive, until it seemed 
to Matt that every summer boarder in Spurwink 
had given him ten cents for the privilege of com- 
ing on board. 

He began his work as doorkeeper by keeping 
an account, in his mind, of the number of visitors; 
but when he had counted as high as seventy-three 
a large party arrived, and he became so confused 
trying to figure how much change he should give 
back for the five-dollar bill handed him that he 
forgot the number. 

Spence’s parents and Florrie were among the 
late comers, and Matt would have passed them in 
free but that Mr. Richmond positively refused to 
accept such kindness. 


118 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“ You must not be so generous, my boy ; the 
sun seems to be shining brightly for you just now, 
and you can't make the proper amount of hay unless 
you adhere rigidly to the rule of collecting a dime 
from every visitor.” 

“ But we owe you for the awnin’, sir.” 

“ Yes, and judging from appearances you will 
be amply able to pay all your bills. Have you 
hired Joey Pendleton as clerk?” 

“No, sir, he’s only here for fun. When he got 
back from dinner business was rushin’ so that I 
told him he’d better help Spence, and we’d square 
it with him somehow.” 

“ I think you will need a clerk, or at least some 
one to run errands, and it may not be a bad idea 
to hire Joey while business is good. Has your 
aunt been here yet ? ” 

“ No, sir. I was goin’ to coax her mighty hard 
when I went to dinner, but the folks began to 
come so early that I haven’t had time to get any- 
thing to eat.” 

“ Of course you want her here while you have a 
large number of customers on board ? ” 

“ That’s what I’d like ; but I don’t believe she'll 
come.” 

“ I will go to the cottage, and see what I can 
accomplish in the line of persuasion. 


Business . 


119 


A moment later Matt was gazing in open- 
mouthed astonishment at the lawyer, who was 
walking rapidly toward the cottage, and then, 
realizing that the gentleman had really gone to 
invite his aunt on hoard the wreck, he turned to 
Mrs. Richmond and said, with a long-drawn sigh 
of surprise and satisfaction : — 

“Well, I’ll be jiggered!” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


AUNT HANNAH'S VISIT. 

HE patrons of the “show” appeared to 



think they were receiving full value for 


X ^ their money, if one might judge from the 
expression on their faces. 

At least three hours had elapsed from the time 
the first arrived, and yet not more than two or 
three had taken their departure. The settees 
were filled; lounging places had been made by 
spreading shawls and wraps upon the deck, and 
the younger of the curiosity-seekers were prome- 
nading forward and aft, enjoying the coolness of 
the gentle breeze, which made its way under the 
awning. 

“ W e must persuade Mr. Atwood to send down 
some hammocks,” Matt heard a young lady say to 
her companion. This will be a lovel} r spot for a 
siesta after a bath in the surf.” 

Although he should have been pleased by this 
praise of the wreck, the boy was greatly disturbed. 
He believed it would be an added attraction if a 


120 


Aunt Hannah's Visit. 


121 


few hammocks were slung at either end of the 
hulk, where they would not incommode the prom- 
enaders ; but he was afraid, because he did not 
understand the meaning of the word, that “sies- 
tas” might interfere with business. 

Therefore he forgot for the moment that Mr. 
Richmond had gone to invite Aunt Hannah on 
board, and hurried to Spence’s side. 

Business in the refreshment department was 
dull just then, and the two partners could spend 
a few moments in conversation without fear of 
slighting their patrons. 

“ Did you hear what that girl in the blue dress 
said a minute ago ? ” Matt whispered. 

“About the hammocks ? Yes, and I think it 
would be a good idea to have a few hung up, for 
the longer folks stay the more money they’ll spend, 
and we’re pulling in a pile, Matt. We must have 
taken considerable more than we spent ” — 

“ She said something about havin’ siesters here. 
What did she mean? You know we can’t afford 
to get very much stuff on board, Spence, ’cause 
this craft ain’t large enough to hold everything 
the summer boarders may want to lug on board.” 

Matt ceased speaking very suddenly, because 
hi£ partner seemed to he struggling desperately to 
check the mirth which threatened to break forth 
into loud laughter. 


122 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“ What’s the matter with you ? ” Matt asked 
almost sharply, after waiting several moments, 
during which Spence’s mirth grew more boisterous. 

“ I don’t see anything funny.” 

“Oh! you don’t, eh?” and Spence could con. 
trol himself no longer, but laughed so loud and 
long that the visitors gazed at him curiously. 
“ So you don’t want them lugging siestas aboard, 
eh?” 

Matt was about to resume his station at the 
gangway, and, seeing that his temper was ruffled, 
Spence followed him as he whispered : — 

“Don’t you know what a siesta is, Matt?” 

“ How should I ? I ain’t one of your swells.” 

“ Now don’t fly off, old man, for you’ll see that 
you said something very funny when I tell you 
that a siesta is a short rest or sleep taken during 
the middle of the day. The girl in blue thought 
it would be nice to have a nap here after bathing, 
and if all hands of them get the same notion we 
shall catch just so many more ten-cent pieces.” 

Matt looked at his partner an instant as if to 
make certain he was not being deceived, and then 
said, as a smile came over his face : — 

“ I don’t blame you for laughing, Spence. I’m 
awful green, for a fact ; but if tilings keep on the 
way they’ve begun I’ll know a good bit more by 
next spring.” 


Aunt Hannah's Visit. 


123 


Just then there were more customers for sea- 
shells, and Spence was forced to leave his partner 
to attend to them. The ladies who made the first 
purchase had explained to their friends how read- 
ily the shells could be converted into artistic 
souvenirs of their visit to Spur wink, and the 
demand increased suddenly. 

It was nearly five o’clock. The deck of the 
wreck was literally thronged with visitors when, 
to Matt’s surprise and joy, Aunt Hannah, dressed 
in her best gingham dress and escorted by Mr. 
Richmond, appeared on the gangway. 

“ I never believed he could coax you to come,” 
the young showman cried joyously, as he clam- 
bered up on the rail to aid the old lady. 

44 I never believed it myself, Matt, dear ; but the 
gentleman wouldn’t take no for an answer, an’ 
now I’m glad I’m here ” ; and Aunt Hannah stood 
at the top of the gangway gazing around her in 
astonishment. 46 It’s the most wonderful thing I 
ever saw. Who’d thought so many folks could be 
persuaded to give good money for coinin’ to sich a 
place as this ? ” 

44 Step down here where you can see the crowd,” 
Matt whispered. 44 Don’t things look fine now 
we’ve got fixed up ? ” 

44 Fine? Why, it’s jest like somethin’ you read 


124 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

about. Who’d ever thought ? Who’d ever 
thought?” 

“ Thought what, Aunt Hannah ? ” 

“ That anything like this could have happened 
here. Why, Matt, you must have taken in as 
much as two dollars ! ” 

“ 1 had over seven in my pocket when I stopped 
keepin’ account of the folks, an’ Spence must have 
as much more, for he’s been sellin’ a lot of stuff. 
Wouldn’t the Admiral dance if he could know 
what we’re makin’ ? ” 

“ Don’t speak of him, Matt, dear. I don’t want 
anything unpleasant in my mind while I’m lookin’ 
at all this.” 

Mr. Richmond had been searching for a place 
where Aunt Hannah could sit down, and now he 
beckoned for Matt to lead her aft. 

A settee nearly opposite the booth had just 
been vacated, and here Aunt Hannah was seated, 
while Spence brought oranges, bananas, and candy 
until she insisted vehemently that he should not 
be so “reckless an’ extravagant.” 

Matt was perfectly happy. His aunt was 
where she could see all that was being done, and, 
for the time being, he desired nothing more. 

Half an hour after Aunt Hannah’s arrival the 
visitors began to depart, and twenty minutes later 
only Mr. Richmond and Mr. Atwood remained. 


Aunt Hannah's Visit. 


125 


“ I suppose you need more goods,” the land- 
lord said with a businesslike air, “and I have 
waited until you had an opportunity to make out 
your order.” 

“ It seems as if we wanted more of everything 
except peanuts,” Spence replied. “ I have only 
sold a quart of nuts, and perhaps that is lucky, for 
the shells are all over the deck.” 

“Let Joey run over to Mrs. Gordon’s and get a 
broom. You must sweep the hulk at every oppor- 
tunity, for no one can say when you will have an- 
other rush of customers. It is certain that you 
are doing a good business in sea-shells, and we’ll 
buy a larger stock to-morrow. How about fruit?” 

“ Use your own judgment in selecting the goods, 
Atwood,” Mr. Richmond interrupted, “ for you 
know what is needed better than the boys can tell 
you. Suppose you give him ten dollars, Spence, 
and then perhaps there will be enough to last two 
or three days ; I don’t think there is any danger 
of laying in too big a stock.” 

Matt, hearing the conversasion, began counting 
the money he had received, thinking his partner 
would need a portion of it; but to his surprise 
Spence had more than the stated amount. 

“ I will come back this evening and learn how 
much the sales figure up.” Mr. Richmond said, af- 


126 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


ter saying “ good-night ” to Aunt Hannah as cour- 
teously as if she had been his most valued friend. 
“Don't get excited over your good fortune, and 
keep a sharp watch for possible mischief-makers.” 

Then the k\vo gentlemen went over the rail, and 
the partners set about counting their money, while 
Joey plied the broom vigorously. 

“ Now we’ll make Aunt Hannah's eyes open,” 
Matt whispered when the financial part of the 
business was completed, and the amounts received 
by each boy set down in a book Spence had 
brought with him for the purpose. “ How much 
do you suppose we’ve taken in ? ” he asked his 
aunt. 

“ Mercy on us, child, I cannot even give a guess. 
I know it must be a power of money, an’ I’m lost in 
bewilderment that I should have been so short- 
sighted as to believe it wouldn’t be possible to 
make money out of the wreck.” 

“ W ell, I took eight dollars an’ sixty cents at 
the door ! ” 

Aunt Hannah raised both hands in astonish- 
ment. 

“ And Spence has got, countin’ in the money he 
gave Mr. Atwood for to-morrow’s stock of goods, 
fourteen dollars and a quarter ! ” 

“ Mercy on us ! Can it be possible ? ” 


Aunt Hannah's Visit . 


127 


“ We took in ninety cents, day before yesterday,’’ 
Matt continued, 44 so the whole thing figgers up 
twenty-three dollars an’ seventy-five cents, an’ the 
first day’s work ain’t finished yet, ’cause I heard 
lots of ’em say they were cornin’ over here this 
evenin’ for a sail.” 

“I never’d thought it! I never’d thought it ! ” 

44 There seems to be a good deal more’n rheu- 
matics in the old hulk, Aunt Hannah ! ” Spence 
cried exultantly. 

“ Why, children, you’ll make yourselves rich in 
no time at this rate. I don’t believe Matt ever 
earned so much money before in all his life ! ” 

44 Of course we can’t expect to do as well as 
this every day,” Spence said, with an air of ex- 
ceeding wisdom. 44 It is a new thing now, and 
everybody wanted to see the show right away ; 
but if only half as many come to-morrow it’ll be 
a fair business, and on rainy days of course we 
won’t have any customers.” 

44 An jest to think that I shilly-shallied ’round 
without makin’ the cake you half paid for, ’cause 
I didn’t think you’d need it.” 

44 It’ll do as well to-morrow, Aunt Hannah, and 
you can bake twice as many loaves as we bargained 
for. I’m going to see if we can’t keep lemon- 
ade ; we’ve had lots of calls for something to 
drink.” 


128 


Admiral J . of Spurwmk. 


“ I can lend you a dozen tumblers that cost me 
twelve cents apiece at Mr. Hewey’s store, an’ you 
might have milk, as well. Jim Jordan’s wife has 
got the best cow in the country, an’ she’d be glad 
to supply you with a gallon every day.” 

“ That’s a good idea,” Spence said approvingly. 
We’ll have a stock on hand to-morrow, if Joey will 
attend to it.” 

This was the opportunity for which Master Pen- 
dleton had been waiting from the moment it was 
ascertained the summer boarders would really pat- 
ronize the “ show,” and he took advantage of it by 
saying promptly : — 

“ I can go over to Jim Jordan’s, of course, but 
I ain’t sure whether mother’ll let me hang ’round 
here much longer. Now if I was hired for a reg- 
’lar clerk, it would be different, an’ I could stick 
right by the wreck all the time. It looks to me as 
if you two fellers had more business on hand than 
you could ’tend to alone.” 

“ I guess you’re right, Joey, and if Matt is will- 
ing, we’ll pay you twenty-five cents a day. I don’t 
think we can afford to give any more, unless trade 
holds on as it has begun, an’ in such case we’ll give 
a little extra.” 

“I’ll be glad to come for that,” Joey replied in 
a tone of satisfaction, for he had not expected to 
be offered so much. 


Aunt Hannah's Visit. 


129 


“ Then you’re hired,” Matt said promptly, “ an’ 
the wages begun this mornin’. Of course we’re 
bound to sleep on board now we’ve got so much 
stuff here, an’ if you want to see your' mother about 
it, you’d better skip home now.” 

„ “ Am I to get my grub at Aunt Hannah’s ? ” 
Joey cried, pausing at the top of the gangway as 
this question presented itself to his mind. 

“ We’ll see to it that you have enough to eat.” 
Joey was off like an arrow from a bow, and 
Spence said to Aunt Hannah, who was still gaz- 
ing around her as if in bewilderment : — 

“ I’m glad J oey said what he did, because it re- 
minds me that we must make some arrangements 
for our board. Of course I can’t go over to the 
hotel for my meals, and I won’t eat at your house 
unless I pay my share — ” 

“ But bless your heart, child, you’re as welcome 
as the flowers.” 

“ The flowers can’t pay their way, and I can. I 
asked father this afternoon what he thought about 
it, and he said that Matt and I ought to give a 
regular price for our board, or else buy the food, 
and hire you to cook it.” 

“ I don’t want any pay,” and Aunt Hannah shook 
her head decidedly. “ All this good fortune has 
come to Matt and me through you, for he never 


130 Admiral J. of SpurwinJc. 

could have spruced up the wreck in sich a fashion, 
an’ I can’t take your money, child.” 

“ I’ll tell you how we’ll fix it,” Matt cried as a 
happy thought came to him. “ Our clerk must he 
fed, as well as ourselves, so we’ll pay for all the 
provisions, and Aunt Hannah shall do the cookin’ 
for nothin’. We’ll hold to the trade we first made 
when it comes to the cake, an’ that’ll give her a 
chance to make a little profit out of the business.” 

This was an arrangement which Aunt Hannah 
thought very generous, and thus the question of 
subsistence was decided. 

That the partners must spend the nights on the 
wreck seemed absolutely necessary; but the old 
lady insisted that a feather bed should be brought 
from her home, and when that subject was dropped 
because of being definitely settled, Aunt Hannah, 
to Matt’s great surprise, asked to see the cabin. 

“ What about the rheumatics ? ” he asked with 
a laugh. 

“ I guess if these city folks can prowl around 
the hulk all the afternoon, I can stand it for an 
hour. I begin to understand that I’ve been an old 
fool ’bout this wreck. Why, she’s worth more’n 
the best farm around here, and the greatest won- 
der of all is that my Matt should have schemed 
out the idee of making her into a circus.” 


Aunt Hannah's Visit. 


131 


The boys conducted her to the cuddy, where 
could be plainly seen the evidences of the fire on 
the charred boards, and, as a matter of course, this 
brought them to the subject of Admiral J. 

Spence announced as his belief that the hot- 
headed little man was already frightened because 
of what he had done, and knowing he might be 
arrested for the assault, would take good care to 
keep at a safe distance ; but Aunt Hannah could 
not agree with him. 

“ The news that you boys have made an enor- 
mous amount of money to-day will spread over the 
neighborhood like wildfire — most likely Joey is 
tellin’ everybody he meets. Once the Admiral 
hears the news hell be wilder than ever, an’ I’m 
afraid we haven’t seen the last of his knack of do- 
in’ mischief.” 

“ If he does show his head with the idea of driv- 
ing us away, father must take him in hand,” Spence 
replied decidedly. “We can’t afford to give up 
such a business as we’re doing now.” 

In this last Aunt Hannah agreed perfectly, and 
said as she clambered up the cuddy stairs : — 

“ Two of you must be on board all the time, an’ 
then he can’t do very much harm, however hard he 
tries.- I’ll bring your meals over, an’ I’d a good 
deal rather do it than have either of you left here 
alone.” 


132 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh . 


44 There won’t be any need of that,” Spence said 
as he assisted the old lady to the gangway. 44 Since 
Joey is regularly hired, we can fix it so that a 
couple of us are always on hand. When he gets 
back Matt shall come to supper, for he must be 
hungry by this time.” 

44 An’ I forgot to bring him the lunch I promised ! 
It’s too bad, I declare ; hut I got so flustered when 
your father run in an’ asked me over here as polite 
as if I’d been the President’s wife, that I didn’t 
think of anything, except how to get out of goin’ 
where there was so many fine folks. I’m glad now 
I come, an’ that’s a fact.” 

When he had assisted Aunt Hannah down the 
gangway, Spence returned to his partner, and the 
two stood looking over the 44 show ” in silence for 
a full minute, after which Matt said emphati- 
cally : — 

44 It’s a great snap, Spence.” 

44 That’s where you’re right. It’s a dozen times 
as big as I counted on, though from the start I 
knew there wasn’t anything slouchy about the 
scheme.” 

Then the two set to work finishing Joey’s task 
of putting the deck to rights, and before they had 
arranged the goods to their entire satisfaction the 
clerk returned. 


Aunt Hannah's Visit. 


133 


“ I come back by the way of Miss Jim Jordan’s,” 
he announced in a loud voice, “an’ she says you can 
have all the milk you want for five cents a quart. 
She’ll lend you a two-gallon can if Aunt Hannah 
will agree to scald it out every day. Say, the 
folks in the village are jest about wild over this 
thing. ” 

“What has started them out?” Spence asked, 
while Matt began to look troubled. 

“You see nobody believed you’d make any 
money out’er showin' the wreck ; but now you’ve 
done so well it seems as if they didn’t like it. Mr. 
Hewey says it’s divertin’ trade from its nat’ral 
channels, Avhatever that is, an’ he ain’t sure but 
Admiral J. was right when he claimed the wreck 
was common property.” 

“ Has the Admiral been up there ? ” Matt asked 
anxiously. 

“ Not as I know of ; but Bill Hunt saw him 
sneakin’ ’round the point while so many folks was 
here. Mother says he’ll make trouble for you yet, 
’cause it begins to look as if Hewey would help him. 
You fellers want to keep your eyes open mighty 
wide.” 

“ Don’t worry, Matt,” Spence said soothingly, as 
he saw the look of distress on his partner’s face. 
“Father’ll be over here this evening, and we can 


134 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

tell him what we’ve heard. He won’t stand any 
nonsense.” 

“ But Mr. Ilewey’s the richest man in Spurwink, 
except Mr. Atwood, an’ if he helps the Admiral — ” 

“ If he was made of gold he couldn’t do anything 
that wasn’t square with the law, and I guess my 
father is more than a match for the whole town of 
Spurwink. Go and get your supper now. Joey 
and I’ll finish this work ; if we don’t get something 
to eat pretty soon we shan’t have another chance 
till late to-night.” 

It would be difficult to say in exactly what 
frame of mind Matt was when he entered the 
house. Highly elated, as a matter of course, that 
the business enterprise had opened so auspiciously ; 
but in a state of anxiety lest the Admiral, now 
that Mr. Hewey had apparently taken sides with 
him, should be able to work some harm to the 
wreck, or those who claimed to own her. 

Never before had Matt seen Aunt Hannah in 
such exuberant spirits ; he knew that she, like 
himself, was looking forward ‘to the cold, long 
winter with the thought that, thanks to this new 
scheme, it would not be a season of privation, as it 
so often had been. 

When he left the hulk it was with the intention 
of telling Aunt Hannah of the news brought by 


Aunt Hannah's Visit. 


135 


Joey, but after one glance at lier face he decided 
to keep the matter a secret as long as possible, 
rather than mar her happiness on this day. 

Supper was ready when Matt arrived, and while 
he was eating the happy old lady alternately praised 
him for having devised such an admirable scheme, 
and speculated as to whether the summer boarders 
would continue to patronize the “ circus.” 

“ It beats all to think you two boys have made 
so much money, an’ all in one day ! I don’t be- 
lieve there’s a boardin’ house in Spurwink that can 
show the same profit for twenty-four hours.” 

“But a rainy day doesn’t make any difference 
to the houses, an’ it’ll knock us endways. Then 
agin, they have seven days in the week, an’ we’ve 
got only six, for of course we shan’t keep open 
Sundays.” 

“I hope, Matt, that you haven’t so much as 
thought of such a thing as doin’ that ! ” 

“ Of course I haven’t, Aunt Hannah. You know 
I would’nt do anything to make you feel bad.” 

“ I had rather hear you say you wouldn’t do it 
because it would be wrong.” 

“ It all amounts to the same thing, so we needn’t 
waste our breath over that. I can’t stop any longer, 
for it’s time Spence and J oey were here, if we count 
on bein’ ready for business when the sailin’ parties 


136 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


arrive. You allowed that I would sleep aboard the 
wreck to-night ? ” 

“Yes, Matt, I expected it, an’ if anything goes 
wrong you have only to holler for me ; I’m a light 
sleeper.” 

“ I’m ’fraid you wouldn’t be much use in a row, 
Aunt Hannah ; but we’ll call you if there’s any 
trouble.” 

“If the Admiral should — hut there, I won’t say 
anything about him, Matt dear; you’re man enough 
to know what to do, an’ I can trust you.” 

“ When it comes to holdin’ possession of what 
belongs to us, you may make sure I’ll do my best. 
Now don’t fuss ’bout us to-niglit, for we’ll be as 
snug as if we was here with you.” 

Then Matt left the house hurriedly, lest he 
should inadvertently disclose what he intended to 
keep secret, and when he saw his partner and Joey 
he impressed upon their minds the fact that Aunt 
Hannah must remain in ignorance of what had 
been heard at the village. 

“ I don’t want her bothered with all the neighbors 
say, any more’n can be helped.” 

“ But somebody’s sure to tell her,” Joey sug- 
gested. 

“ I know that well enough ; but this is one night 
when she’ll go to bed happy, an’ we won’t do any- 
thing to prevent it.” 


CHAPTER IX. 


A LEGAL NOTIFICATION. 



HE partners and their clerk had eaten sup- 
per, put the finishing touches to the goods 


C- X ^ in the booth, swung two lanterns — all 
that Aunt Hannah owned — and discussed the 
prospects for business oyer and over again, but not 
a customer appeared. 

“ It must be eight o’clock, and if the boarders 
were thinking of spending the evening here we 
should have seen some of them before this, ” Spence 
said in a tone of disappointment. “ From what I 
heard I made up my mind we would have quite a 
rush of business to-night ; but it doesn’t look much 
like it now.” 

“ Takin’ in so much money this afternoon has 
kinder spoiled us,” Matt replied, with a laugh. 

“ Here we are lookin’ mournful as calves, because 
the wreck isn’t crowded with folks, an’ yet this - 
mornin’ I’d stood on my head if somebody had 
guaranteed we’d have ’most twenty-five dollars by 
this time.” 


137 


138 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“ I’m not complaining, Matt ; but business started 
off so booming that I counted on its keeping up 
longer than this. Now — ” 

Spence ceased speaking very suddenly as the 
sound of the voices could be heard from far out 
over the water, and Joey cried exultantly : — 

“ You fellers begun to whine too soon. The sum- 
mer boarders have been out rowin’, an’ are cornin’ 
over for a rest. I reckon you’ll have about as 
much as you can ’tend to ’twixt now an’ ten o’clock.” 

In this Master Pendleton proved a true prophet. 

With the first load of visitors came Dan Fernald, 
and he said in a whisper to Matt when his passen- 
gers had trooped over the rail, after paying the ad- 
mission fee : — 

“ You’ll have a mighty good trade to-night. 
Every boat I own is let, an’ they’ll all put in here 
before goin’ back to the hotel. This ’ere wreck is 
goin’ to be a mint of money so long as the summer 
boarders are in town, an’ the Spurwinkers are 
mightily stirred up, ’cause you had wit enough to 
turn the hulk to good account.” 

“Have you heard the news from the village?” 

“ Yes; everybody there is by the ears, an’ since 
they can’t claim a share of the wreck themselves, 
they’re takin’ sides with Admiral J.” 

“Joey told us Mr. Hewey was mad, ’cause he 
said we was takin’ trade away from him.” 


A Legal Notification. 


139 


“ Let him stew. I guess you’ve got them on your 
side as will see this thing through in great shape, 
so there’s no call for you to worry.” 

“Have you heard Mr. Atwood say anything 
about it since he left here ? ” 

“Yes, he an’ the city lawyer was allowin,’ jest 
before I come away, that the Spurwinkers might 
back up the Admiral in his foolish claim.” 

“ An’ if they do I’m ’fraid our trade’ll be 
spoiled.” 

“ Don’t cry before the milk is spilled. If I had 
your chance an’ your backin,’ I wouldn’t let any- 
thing trouble me.” 

The conversation was interrupted by the arrival 
of a second boat filled with pleasure seekers, and 
the evening’s business had begun in earnest. 

Already Spence and Joey had quite as much as 
they could do to attend to the wants of their cus- 
tomers, and, when he was not needed at the rail to 
collect the price of admission, Matt aided them in 
serving out the wares. 

One party brought three hammocks, and when 
these were slung they added greatly to the attrac- 
tiveness of the scene. 

Dan Fernald, acting upon Mr. Atwood’s orders, 
had taken from the hotel four lanterns with power- 
ful reflectors, and after they had been hung at the 


140 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 


corners of the awning with their rays directed in- 
board, the illumination was, to Matt at least, al- 
most dazzling. 

Two of the visitors had guitars, and soon the 
strains of music were stealing out over the waters, 
enticing on board all in the immediate vicinity. 

Matt had thought the scene of the afternoon 
could not be equaled, but now he believed it was 
as nothing compared with this, and wished most 
heartily that Aunt Hannah would venture on 
board once more. 

Half an hour later he heard a hum of conversa- 
tion from the shore, and stole out on the gangway 
in alarm, fearing Admiral J. had come to assert his 
alleged claims to the wreck again ; but he soon as- 
certained that a group of the villagers had gathered 
on the beach just in front of Aunt Hannah’s cot- 
tage, to listen to the music. 

“If what we did this afternoon stirred Mr. 
Hewey up, he’ll be crazy when he finds out that 
we’ve got another crowd here,” Matt whispered to 
Spence, who had come forward to learn why his 
partner was peering thus intently over the rail. 
“There’s a lot of Spurwinkers out on the sands.” 

“Why don’t they pay their money like sensible 
people, and come on board?” 

“ You wouldn’t ketch them spendin’ ten cents 


A Legal Notification. 141 

to do anything of that kind. I wonder if Admiral 
J. is there ? ” 

“ I hope so, for I’d like to have the bow-legged 
little wretch see what we can do when we try. He 
won’t show his nose near us, though, because he’s 
afraid we’d have him arrested for ’most killing 
you.” 

44 He knows by this time that I wasn’t hurt very 
bad.” 

44 We ought to have given him a good scare.” 

44 How ? ” 

44 By keeping those bandages on your head. If 
he’d got one glimpse of you as you were when 
Aunt Hannah got through dressing the wounds, 
he’d left this village mighty quick. We should 
have kept you looking ’most used up. 

44 I’m ’fraid we’d scared even the summer board- 
ers off, if I’d shinneyed ’round with all that cloth 
tied on me.” 

The music ceased while the partners were talk- 
ing, and it became necessary for Spence to wait 
upon his customers once more. 

A few moments after he went back to the booth, 
four half-grown boys came on the gangway, and 
Matt made ready to receive their admission' fee, 
but was disappointed. 

They remained within a few feet of the rail, 


142 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

looking inboard with mingled curiosity and impu- 
dence. 

“ It only costs ten cents to come in an’ have a 
seat,” Matt said politely. 

“ If we wanted to come we shouldn’t pay any- 
thing,” one of the number cried jeeringly. This 
’ere wreck don’t belong to you any more’n it does 
to the rest of the folks ’round here, an’ you can’t 
cheat us out of our money.” 

“ She belongs to me ’cause she’s on our land, an’ 
the rest of the Spurwinkers couldn’t get at her 
’less Aunt Hannah was willin’ they should come 
across her lot.” 

“ She only owns to high-water mark, and I’d 
like to see her stop us from cornin’ up on the 
beach.” 

Even though the speaker had not used a threat- 
ening tone, Matt would have understood that 
these visitors came with the intention of making 
mischief, and he believed they were incited to 
such a course by Admiral J. 

He understood that he and his partner could not 
hope to resist them successfully, whatever they 
should attempt to do, and there now appeared to 
be more danger than ever that it might become 
necessary to abandon the enterprise. 

It seemed to the anxious “ showman ” that here 


A Legal Notification . 


143 


was a case where he could test the efficacy of a 
“ soft answer,” and he said in a conciliatory 
tone : — 

“ I don’t count on havin’ trouble, boys, for I 
know you wouldn’t make any, ’specially while city 
ladies was here.” 

“ What do we care for your city ladies? You’re 
gettin’ too big for your clothes, Matt Turner, jest 
’cause the summer boarders are shovelin’ money 
into your pockets. Come on, fellers ; let’s see 
what this crowd looks like ! ” 

The would-be “ tough ” leaped on the rail as he 
spoke ; but Matt was not to be cowed by the im- 
plied threats. 

“ I want ten cents from each one if you come 
aboard,” he said firmly, standing 'directly in front 
of the leader, and this demand had just been made 
when the fellow slapped him on the side of the 
face with a force that sent him reeling toward the 
booth. 

Spence sprang forward to assist his partner, 
while Joey, recognizing the new-comers as the 
most quarrelsome boys in Spurwink, prudently 
retreated toward the cabin. 

The partners would have been no match for the 
unwelcome visitors, yet both went forward boldly 
to uphold their rights, and it is probable they 


144 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

would have received a severe flogging but for the 
interference of Dan Fernald. 

“ I counted on somethin’ of this kind,” the 
boatman said in a low, angry tone, as he suddenly 
appeared, “ an’ kept out of sight to see how far 
you fellers would go. I don't want to kick up a 
row here if it can be helped, but unless you’re 
over that rail in less than ten seconds, I’ll take a 
hand in the business.” 

The Spurwinkers had not counted on such a 
show of force ; they evidently believed no one but 
the partners would oppose them, and were brave 
because of superior numbers and strength. 

Two of the fellows obeyed Dan Fernald’s com- 
mand very quickly, but the leader seemed bent on 
making a disturbance, and cried loudly : — 

“ I’ve got a right to come aboard this wreck, an’ 
I count on stayin’ ! ” 

“That’s where you make a big mistake, Bart 
Denny. You’re nothin’ more’n a bully, and never’d 
come down here to take up the bow-legged Ad- 
miral’s quarrel if you’d supposed these boys had 
anyone to help ’em.” 

As he spoke the boatman seized Denny by the 
coat-collar, gave him a sudden jerk which brought 
him to his knees, and then literally flung him 
over the rail into the water. 


A Legal Notification. 


145 


This done, Dan went back to his seat forward 
of the main hatchway, where he could see all that 
was being done without being himself seen, mov- 
ing as quietly as if nothing out of the ordinary 
course of events had occurred. 

As a matter of fact, only a few of the visitors 
knew what had happened until the splash was 
heard, and then, after watching until the discom- 
fited bully crawled out of the water, they resumed 
their pleasures. 

Matt and Spence were greatly disturbed in 
mind, however, and the happiness which filled 
their hearts a few moments previous had suddenly 
been changed to fear. 

They had good reason to believe the bullies 
would not remain peaceable after this check to 
their plans, and if a second attempt should be made 
when the boatman was not there to assist in the 
defense of the wreck, but little could be done to 
prevent such mischief as they proposed to work. 

And the “ toughs ” of Spurwink were not yet 
silenced. 

Five minutes after Bart reached the shore they 
began a series of cat-calls and yells intended to 
annoy the singers, and making such an uproar that 
more than one of the ladies looked thoroughly 
alarmed. 


146 


Admiral J. of SpurwinJc. 


“I’ll soon put a stop to that,” Dan Fernaldsaid 
sharply to the partners, as lie went quickly toward 
the gangway. 

“ But you mustn’t go down there alone,” Matt 
whispered, as he grasped the sleeve of the boat- 
man’s coat. “ There are four, and you will get the 
worst of it.” 

“Don’t worry about me,” Dan replied grimly. 
“ I’ve lived on this shore long enough to know 
that crowd from root to branch, an’ I allow six of 
’em wouldn’t be any too many for a decent man to 
tackle at one time.” 

“ Spence an’ I’ll go with you if you’re bound to 
meet ’em.” 

“ Don’t you dare do anything of the kind. Stay 
where you are, an’ act as if nothing had happened. 
If these summer boarders get the idee there’s likely 
to be fightin’ done ’round the wreck nights, it’s 
good-by to your evenin’ trade, an’ that would 
hurt me, ’cause I count on lettin’ a good many 
boats while this ’ere show is ru linin’.” 

One of the visitors, a young gentleman with a 
mandolin, evidently understood what the boatman 
was about to do, and with rare good sense he began 
to play a lively tune, insisting that his companions 
join in singing ; therefore the music drowned all 
noise of the combat, if indeed there was one in 
progress. 


A Legal Notification. 


14T 


Spence and Matt had obeyed Dan by standing 
near the booth as if ready to serve their patrons, 
and although both listened intently, but little could 
be heard. 

Once they thought they distinguished the boat- 
man’s voice, and again what seemed like a cry of 
pain came faintly up amid the strains of music, 
but that was all. 

Ten minutes after he had descended, Dan Fer- 
nald returned in a leisurely manner, with a look of 
satisfaction on his face, and sauntering to the 
obscurity of his former position, disappeared from 
view. 

Such of the ladies as had exhibited signs of alarm 
now seemed to be reassured, and the visitors gave 
themselves wholly up to the enjoyment of the 
hour. 

Matt was eager to learn the result of Dan’s 
descent to the beach, and ten minutes later, when 
no one was observing him, he crept cautiously to 
the boatman’s side. 

“ Did you have any row ? ” he asked in a whis- 
per. 

“Nothin’ to speak of; a couple of that crowd 
know what a headache means by this time, I 
reckon. See here, Matt, I allow more trouble may 
grow out of this, an’ as soon as I land the party I 


148 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

brought over here I’ll come back an’ stay all night.” 

44 Then you think Bart Denny’s gang may show 
up again ? ” 

44 1 shouldn’t be surprised if they tried it once 
more, pickin’ their time when they think I ain’t 
here.” 

' 44 But you can’t afford to keep runnin’ back an’ 
forth to look after us.” 

44 Yes I can, Matt. It will pay me well to have 
this show kept up, for I shall do a big business 
with my boats. Then again, Lawyer Richmond 
agrees to square all I do for you boys, an’ he’s a 
man I like to have for a boss.” 

44 Do you s’pose he’d really pay for your sleep- 
in’ here. 

1,4 See here, Matt, that lawyer’s got more money 
than he knows what to do with, an’ lie’s bound 
this ’ere show shall be kept goin’. I’ll be back 
agin in less’n half an hour after I leave, an’ be- 
tween you and me I wouldn’t be sorry if the gang 
should come when I wasn’t ’fraid of makin’ a 
noise.” 

Not until two hours later were the visitors ready 
to depart, and Dan whispered to the 44 showmen,” 
as he ran down the gangway to see that the boats 
were in order : — 

44 Keep all the lanterns lighted as if you had 
company aboard, an’ I’ll soon be back.” 


149 


A Legal Notification . 

The guests took their departure with assurances 
that they should come very often on pleasant 
evenings, and the partners and their clerk were 
left alone, all three feeling decidedly uneasy in 
mind, for it was quite possible some of Bart Den- 
ny’s party were on watch in the vicinity, waiting 
for an opportunity to come on board when the 
showmen had no one to protect them. 

“We must keep our eyes open mighty wide,” 
Joey said in a tremulous tone. 44 What would you 
fellers do if that gang came back now?” 

44 The best plan would be to say nothing, for we 
couldn’t fight them off, and we’d let father attend 
to them to-morrow. I’ll answer for it they didn’t 
make but one visit this season.” 

44 If Admiral J. ain’t at the bottom of all this I’m 
mistaken,” Matt said emphatically. 44 He don’t 
dare come himself, but will egg on sich bullies as 
Bart.” 

44 Now don’t borrow trouble,” Spence interrupted 
impatiently. 44 It will be time enough to fret after 
the roughs show themselves. Let’s count up our 
cash and then put the goods in the cabin, for it 
won’t be safe to leave all this stuff on deck.” 

Matt was forced to spend many moments reckon- 
ing up the silver taken at the 44 door ” that evening, 
but he finally succeeded, and announced that he had 
two dollars and thirty cents. 


150 Admiral J. of Spurwink, 

“ Then we had twenty-three visitors, without 
counting Dan Fernald, and they spent for nuts and 
such stuff, four dollars and five cents. Now I don’t 
call it a bad beginning,” he continued after adding 
up the several amounts in his book. “ We’ve taken 
in one dime more than thirty dollars ! ” 

“ I’ll bet Mr. Hewey don’t get much more’n that 
in a week!” Joey exclaimed in delight. 

“We shan’t do so well again,” Spence replied 
with an air of exceeding wisdom. “ Everybody 
came to-day, and when the wreck begins to be an 
old story, our receipts will dwindle away till we’ll 
think a dollar a day is good business.” 

When Dan Fernald returned, the boys had made 
everything snug for the night. The hammocks 
which the guests had left behind were unslung 
and stowed in the cabin. The settees were piled 
upon the deck aft, and it only remained to take 
down the lanterns. 

“No, I allow there’s no call for standin’ watch,” 
the boatman said decidedly when Matt suggested 
that some one should remain on guard. “ The Spur- 
winkers can’t do very much mischief before I’ll 
hear ’em, an’ we’d best get all the sleep we can.” 

Now that they had a man with them, the odd 
noises which could be heard gave the boys no 
uneasiness, and in a remarkably short time after 


A Legal Notification. 


151 


taking possession of tlie berths, all were sleeping 
soundty, not to awaken until the rays of the rising 
sun streamed in through the companion-way. 

44 It’s mornin’, my hearties, an’ we’re as much 
alive as we were last night ! ” Dan cried as he 
sprang to his feet. 44 1 must get over to the hotel 
in short order ; but you can look for me this eve- 
nin’. There’s no fear of your havin’ trouble in the 
daylight.” 

Five minutes later the boatman was pulling vig- 
orously toward the Surf House, and the partners 
went to Aunt Hannah’s for breakfast, leaving Joey 
to stand watch until their return. 

It was agreed during the short walk up the beach 
that nothing should be said regarding the disturb- 
ance of the previous evening, and, therefore, they 
told Aunt Hannah only of their patrons. 

44 1 heard the music, an’ allowed you was makin’ 
money hand over fist. I declare it does seem 
strange sich good fortune should come to us ! Do 
you know, Matt, this is the first time in many a 
year that I haven’t had to worry about how we’re 
goin’ to get through the winter ; but now you’ve 
begun to earn money at the rate of thirty dollars a 
day, it seems as if I might take a little rest, don’t 
it?” 

44 Indeed it does, Aunt Hannah,” Spence replied 


152 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


cheerily as he helped himself to a generous supply 
of broiled fish. 44 You’re all right for next season, 
and perhaps a good while longer, for Matt and I 
won’t stop being partners while we’ve got such a 
property as this on our hands.” 

Then Spence suddenly exhibited a strong desire 
to learn the early history of Spurwink, and so plied 
Aunt Hannah with questions that she had no 
opportunity to speak further regarding the wreck. 

44 1 had to set her talking about something else,” 
Spence said when, breakfast having come to an end, 
he and his partner were walking down the beach, 
44 for I was afraid I should let out what might make 
her feel badly. Of course she’d worry if she knew 
the villagers are beginning to take sides with Ad- 
miral J.” 

Matt made no reply to this remark, for just at 
that moment he saw some one standing on the gang- 
way. 

44 Hello, there’s Squire Kelley ! ” he exclaimed. 
44 Do you s’pose he’s come down to see the show?” 

44 It isn’t reasonable to think he’d come so early, 
if he had no other errand than that,” Spence re- 
plied as a troubled look came over his face. 44 I’m 
afraid it means mischief for us ! ” 

Matt could not speak just then because of a big 
lump which had suddenly come into his throat, 


A Legal Notification. 


153 


and lie hurried forward at full speed, closely fol- 
lowed by Spence. 

“ I was beginnin’ to think I should have to go 
to the house after you, although I didn’t want to 
do that, for it would stir your Aunt Hannah all 
up.” 

“ Then there is something wrong ? ” Matt cried, 
more alarmed because it was the Squire who had 
come, than he would have been at seeing the Ad- 
miral escorted by all of Bart Denny’s friends. 

“ Yes, lad, I reckon you’ll call it bad, though 
there’s a way out of it, as that city lawyer can ex- 
plain. I’m here to serve an injunction against 
your continuing in business on this wreck.” 

Matt looked both alarmed and perplexed, and 
Spence asked as he took the paper the Squire held 
toward him : — 

“ What do you mean by that, sir? Who can pre- 
vent us from doing as we please while the wreck 
is on Mrs. Gordon’s land ? ” 

“ That is a question which can only be settled by 
due process of law, and in the meantime an injunc- 
tion has been granted by the court against your 
making* a private exhibition of the hulk.” 

“ Who’s got the right to stop us ? ” 

“Admiral — I mean Mr. Johnson applied for 
the injunction, which will be dissolved if it is 
ascertained that he has no rights in the premises.’ 


154 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh 


“ Does it mean that we’ve got to give her up to 
Admiral J. ? ” Matt asked. 

“ No ; you can continue to hold possession, but 
you must not take a fee for allowing people to 
come on board. I’m sorry to interfere with your 
business, boys, but at present Admiral — Mr. 
Johnson is my client, and I am bound to protect 
his interests.” 

Then, after warning the partners against acting 
contrary to his instructions, the Squire walked 
away in the direction of the village, and the three 
boys stood gazing at each other in dismay. 


CHAPTER X. 

A QUESTION OF LAW. 

fs ) T PENCE was the first to break the painful 
silence, and he cried suddenly, as a remark 
of Squire Kelley’s came to his mind : — 
“We must see father right away.” 

“ But if the court says we can’t run the show, I 
don’t see how he’d help us.” 

“ That Squire of yours said there was a way 
out of it, as the 4 city lawyer could explain,’ and 
we want to get at that way as quickly as possible, 
for it’ll never do to shut up shop while the people 
are willing to patronize us.” 

“ Then we’ll go right down to the Surf House 
and Matt started at once. 

“ Hold on ! ” Spence cried peremptorily. “ You 
an’ I must stick right by the wreck. There was 
nothing said about our keeping people off of her, 
and I’m going to take precious good care Admiral 
J. don’t set his foot on the deck.” 

“ But you said we must see your father? ” 
“And I meant it; but we’ll ask him to come to 

155 


156 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


us. Joey shall go to the Surf House immediately, 
give father this paper, and tell him why we're 
hanging on here.” 

44 1 ain’t had my breakfast yet,” Master Pendle- 
ton objected. 

14 It’s too late to thinkof eating now. Get three 
or four bananas, and start at once. Don’t stop a 
single minute on the way, for there’s no telling 
how valuable a few moments may be to us.” 

44 Can I have some peanuts too?” Joey asked, 
thinking this a good opportunity to gratify his 
desires. 

44 Take as much as you can eat, and be quick 
about it ! ” 

When, five minutes later, Master Pendleton 
emerged from the cabin, both his pockets bulged 
suspiciously, but the partners were in too much 
trouble to note the fact. The one and only thought 
in the mind of either was that Mr. Richmond should 
be informed of what had happened with the least 
possible delay. 

When Joey set out at what he would have called 
a rapid walk, although to his employers it seemed 
the slowest pace a boy could move, both hands and 
his mouth were full, and there was an expression 
on his face which told that he was now a firm be- 
liever in the old adage, 44 It’s an ill wind that blows 
no good.” 


A Question of Law. 


157 


“ Let’s go on board,” Spence suggested, after 
they had watched Master Pendleton a few mo- 
ments. “ That fellow is moving, and it’s about all 
you can say for him. He won’t arrive too late, 
though, for most likely father hasn’t been to break- 
fast yet.” 

“ It looks as if our money-makin’ wasn’t goin’ to 
last a great while,” Matt said disconsolately, as he 
seated himself on the rail with his face turned in 
•the direction of the Surf House. “ If that sneak 
of an Admiral ever shows his head ’round here agin 
he’ll know what I think of him.” 

“And I reckon you cubs think that’ll hurt him, 
eh ? ” a shrill, disagreeable-sounding voice cried, 
and looking around quickly, the partners saw their 
enemy approaching. 

He was not more than a couple of yards from 
the foot of the gangway, and appeared to be bent 
on boarding the wreck. 

Spence ran quickly across the deck while Matt 
was gazing at the Admiral in speechless astonish- 
ment, and wrenching loose one of the smaller 
timbers used in the construction of the booth, 
raised it threateningly as he leaped on the rail. 

“ Don’t dare step your foot on those planks, you 
bow-legged little villain ! ” he cried, angrily. W e’ve 
got possession of this wreck for a spell yet, and 
count on holding it.” 


158 


Admiral J. of Spurivink. 


“ Do you intend to brave the law ? ” the Admiral 
squeaked, stepping back a few paces. “ It has 
been decided that this hulk is common property, 
and I shall—” 

“ Nothing has been decided yet, and you know 
it ! A fine sort of party you are to come here 
with lies on your lips in the hope of getting the 
better of us. If you’ll stay right where you are 
till father arrives, I promise that you shall be 
arrested for trying to kill Matt and burn the* 
wreck.” 

“You seem to think your father is mighty power- 
ful jest because he happens to be a New York law- 
yer, an’ is rich. But that’s where you are makin’ 
a big mistake, you impudent little cur ! I know as 
much law as he does, an’ we’ll — ” 

“ Then you know Matt can have you arrested, 
and it’s what he shall do before you’re a day older ! ” 

“If your father had thought anything of the kind 
could be done, he’d had a warrant out before this. 
But the fact of his not havin’ applied for one shows 
what he thiifks of my claim to this ‘ere hulk.” 

“ So that makes you so bold, does it ? Well, I can 
explain why no move has been made to punish you ; 
it’s because everyone believed you was sorry for 
what you’d done, and that you might possibly be- 
have yourself after knocking a boy senseless and 


A Question of Law. 


159 


leaving him where he’d have burned to death if we 
hadn't come just as we did.” 

The Admiral winced under this remark, and 
Spence would have pressed his advantage but that 
Matt, clutching him by the coat to attract attention, 
whispered : — 

“ Don’t talk with the little wretch, else Aunt 
Hannah will hear, an’ we don’t want to make her 
feel bad any sooner than we can help.” 

He spoke louder than he intended, and the Ad- 
miral heard the concluding words. 

“ So you’re tryin’ to keep it a secret from her, 
are you?” he screamed. “Well, she shall know 
the whole story, an’ learn that she’s brought her- 
self into a law-suit that’ll strip her of this place, 
even if worse trouble don’t come of it.” 

Matt sprang toward the gangway as the vindic- 
tive little man advanced in the direction of the cot- 
tage, but Spence seized him around the waist. 

“What are you going to do?” 

“ Have it out with that villain rather than let 
him scare Aunt Hannah ! ” 

“ That’s exactly what he’d like to have you do, 
and you shall stay here if I have to tie your legs.” 

“ What do you mean ? ” Matt asked in surprise 
as he faced his partner. 

“I don’t claim to be posted in the law as that 


160 


Admiral J. of Spurwink . 


bow-legged little fool does ; but I know you’ve got 
no riglit to lay your hands on him. Now you’ve 
got the advantage, because you can have him ar- 
rested for the assault the other night ; but once bod- 
ily harm was done him, he’d be on even footing, an’ 
it would be a question of which could get a war- 
rant first. I’ll guarantee he wouldn’t wait as long 
as you have.” 

Matt no longer tried to resist the friendly deten- 
tion, and, as a matter of fact, it was too late to pre- 
vent the Admiral from entering the cottage. 

The angry man had walked swiftly, and was now 
on the veranda. 

“He’ll jest about set her crazy!” Matt cried, 
his eyes filling with tears. 

“ Don’t be so certain of that. I ain’t willing to 
believe he’ll have any the best of the visit, for she’ll 
forget all about ‘ he that ruleth the spirit’ when she 
sees him.” 

While Spence was speaking the Admiral entered 
the house, and it seemed to the boys as if he had 
but just disappeared from view when the door was 
flung violently open, and they heard Aunt Hannah 
say in a sharp, firm voice : — 

“I have warned you off my land once before, 
Joseph J. Johnson, and if I have reason to do it 
again there’ll be considerable trouble. Don’t ever 


A Question of Law . 


161 


let me see you step foot on what belongs to me, or 
I'll take legal steps to punish you. I do hope an’ 
pray I shan’t let my temper get the best of me this 
mornin’; but it’s mighty hard work to remember all 
I’ve been told to do, when I see you an’ know you 
tried to kill Matthew.” 

Aunt Hannah advanced as she spoke, and the 
Admiral was backing away step by step as if be- 
lieving she intended to strike him. 

“ I’ve brought a law-suit agin you, an’ I’ll take 
every dollar’s worth of property you own!” he 
screamed viciously when Aunt Hannah was forced 
to cease speaking for ail instant from lack of breath, 
and he thus had an opportunity. “You shall suf- 
fer for what that villain of a Matt, and his city 
friend, have done in violation of my rights ! ” 
“Joseph J. Johnson, I warn you once more to 
take yourself off my land ! ” 

“ I’ll go when I get ready, an’ not a minute be- 
fore. You shall hear what I’ve got to say.” 

“ Now’s our chance,” Spence cried, speaking hur- 
riedly as he seized the fragment of timber once 
more. “ She has warned him off as a trespasser, 
and we’ve got a right to see that her orders are en- 
forced. I know that much law, if no more.” 

Even before he had ceased speaking Spence was 
running down the gangway at full speed, Matt fob 


162 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 


lowing close at his heels although he did not quite 
understand what his partner had said. 

“ If Mrs. Gordon has warned you away, why 
don’t you go?” Master Richmond cried as he ad- 
vanced threateningly at the little man so learned in 
the law. 

The Admiral soon realized that he had placed 
himself in a disagreeable position, and was in great 
fear of bodily injury, knowing as he did that the boy 
could lawfully eject him from the place. 

This time he stopped neither to threaten nor 
scold, but took to his heels in alarm, running, as 
Matt afterward said, “for all he was worth” until 
he had passed the boundary line, when he halted. 

“You shall see what I can do, you thievin’ scoun- 
drel ! ” he yelled, shaking his fist in impotent wrath. 

“ I know already what you’ll do — you’ll go to 
jail for trying to kill Matt, that’s what’ll happen 
before you’re many hours older ! ” 

Admiral J. made no further remark, but toddled 
away in the direction of his own home without so 
much as turning his head, and Spence congratulated 
himself upon having frightened the bow-legged 
little man. 

Aunt Hannah had not spent any time in watch- 
ing the chase, but, seizing Matt by the arm, demand- 
ed to know what new move the Admiral had made. 


A Question of Law. 


163 


It was necessary Matt should explain all that had 
occurred, or refuse to say a word, and as the last 
course was not to be even thought of, he related 
the unpleasant incidents of the previous evening, 
as well as the purport of Squire Kelley’s visit. 

Much to his surprise Aunt Hannah received the 
information as calmly as if he had been telling her 
some unimportant hit of news. 

“ I was afraid last night, while I listened to the 
music, that your good fortune would make the folks 
in the village envious, an’ so I’m not so much sur- 
prised as I might be. We’ll hear what Spence’s 
father says before makin’ up our minds that the 
circus can’t be run any longer, an’ no matter what 
happens, Matt, we’ll keep a firm hold on our temper. 
‘ A soft answer — ’” 

“Was that what you gave the Admiral, Aunt 
Hannah?” Spence asked with a ringing laugh. 

“ I didn’t count on givin’ him a chance to say 
anything that needed an answer,” the old lady re- 
plied grimly. “ I was ’fraid I’d say somethin’ I’d 
be sorry for if he stayed many minutes, so ordered 
him off the place, as I had a right to do, ’cordin’ to 
his very words, repeated over an’ over agin when 
he’s set in the house eatin’ my doughnuts an’ lay- 
in’ down the law. Who’s that cornin’ up the 
beach? ” 


164 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

“ Hurrah ! It’s father ! ” Spence cried, throwing 
his hat high in the air as a means of expressing his 
joy. “ He didn’t waste any time, but has hired a 
horse so he could get here quicker.” 

Aunt Hannah’s face clouded as she remarked 
quietly : — 

“ He must think you boys are in desperate straits, 
else he wouldn’t have spent good money hirin’ a 
team when it’s almost as easy to walk.” 

“ Perhaps he wanted a ride, and wasn’t in the 
mood for walking ; but we needn’t trouble ou? heads 
trying to guess why he’s coming in a carriage, for 
he’ll soon be here to explain.” 

Even Spence was beginning to grow nervous re- 
garding the possible outcome of the injunction, and 
the suggestion made by Aunt Hannah seemed 
plausible. 

Not a word was spoken by the sad-yisaged little 
party during the interval which elapsed before Mr. 
Richmond’s arrival. 

In silence they watched as he drew nearer and 
nearer, not even seeing anything comical in Joey’s 
assumption of dignity while he sat bolt upright by 
the side of the lawyer, munching peanuts as if 
something important depended upon his being able 
to swallow a certain number in a given time. 

“You are evidently not in a cheerful mood, good 


A Question of Law. 


165 


people,” Mr. Richmond said cheerily as he brought 
the horse to a standstill and descended from the 
vehicle. “ I dare say there »was something very 
terrifying in the injunction served upon you by 
Mr. Kelley.” 

“ He told us we couldn’t carry on the show till 
the question was settled as to who owned the 
wreck,” Spence replied mournfully, “and it’s pretty 
hard to shut down when customers are so plenty.” 

“I do not think he meant exactly that, my boy. 
It is possible for us to give bail pending the set- 
tlement of the case, and Mr. Atwood will not be 
averse to doing so for us when I secure him against 
possible loss.” 

“What do you mean by giving bail, father? 
We’re not arrested.” 

“ In a certain sense the wreck is. Mr. Johnson 
pleads that you have no more claim than others 
who own the property on the shore. Now we give 
bail that we will pay all reasonable penalties which 
may be assessed for the detention of the property? 
in event of the casqDeing decided against us. That 
done, you can continue your business as before.” 

“ Are you going to fix it? ” 

“ I shall try,, although I may not be able to do 
so as quickly as you wish. I want first to get Mrs. 
Gordon’s information as to her holdings on the shore, 


166 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 


when the wreck drifted in, and how long she has 
lain here unclaimed.” 

“ The Admiral came a few minutes ago, and we 
wouldn’t let him step on board.” 

“ So he has shown himself, has he ? T rather 
thought the gentleman would keep out of sight.” 

“ Why shouldn’t Matt have him arrested ?” 

“ I do not think it a wise move now, since it 
would appear as if done in retaliation. Hold pos- 
session of what you claim as yours, but do not 
demand payment for allowing anyone to come on 
board. If you admit people free, there is nothing to 
prevent you from disposing of your wares. In case 
one comes, however, all must be allowed the same 
privilege, and the villagers have equal rights with 
others. The injunction simply restrains you from 
charging an admission fee to the derelict. Now, 
Mrs. Gordon, if you will invite me to your house 
for a few moments, I shall soon know all that is 
necessary.” 

Aunt Hannah led the way to the cottage, and 
the boys were left alone, feeling decidedly more 
easy in mind, but uncertain as to whether it would 
be best to allow the people to flock on board if an 
admission fee could not be charged. 

u We’d better take everything ashore, and leave 
her as she was a week ago,” Matt said gloomily. 


A Question of Law . 


167 


44 Then we’d be giving up possession, and I think 
father’s idea is that we should hold on to her as 
long as we can. Did you see Mr. Atwood at the 
hotel, Joey?” 

“ He went into Portland this mornin’,” Master 
Pendleton replied, speaking indistinctly because of 
the many peanuts in his mouth. 

44 Where is Dan Fernald ? ” 

“ He went with the boss.” 

44 How many nuts did you take, Joey? ” 

44 Only as much as would stay my stomach till 
I could get breakfast,” and Master Pendleton 
looked both injured and surprised that such a 
question should have been asked. 

44 W ell, if you can eat any breakfast now I 
wouldn’t like the job of staying your stomach when 
you had missed a couple of meals.” 

44 You said I was to have all I needed.” 

44 That’s right, J oey, an’ I meant it. Keep on 
eating, and enjoy yourself.” 

Then Spence continued the discussion with his 
partner regarding their future course of action, 
and before the question had been decided Mr. 
Richmond had come out of the cottage. 

44 1 am going to Portland now, and hope to meet 
Mr. Atwood on the road; but in case I should 
miss him, and he comes here, say I will consider it 


168 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


a favor if he returns to town at once. He can hear 
of my whereabouts by asking at the Falmouth.” 

“ Shall we give a free show, father ? ” Spence 
asked. 

“ I would so advise, and in case you decide to, 
be careful not to do anything which might be con- 
strued as a yielding on your part of Matt’s claim. 
I heard from Fernald of what occurred last eve- 
ning, and have arranged for him to stay on board 
every night while you continue in business.” 

Then Mr. Richmond drove away and the boys 
set about putting the wreck to rights, for there was 
no longer any question in their minds as to the 
proper course to be pursued. 

They were yet intent on this task when Dan 
Fernald drove up with the goods which had been 
purchased for the showmen by the landlord. 

“Where is Mr. Atwood?” Spence asked. 

“ The lawyer met us on the road, an’ took him 
into town agin. It looks like every Spurwinker 
in the village was jumpin’ down on you, eh ? ” 

“ A good many of ’em are surely sidin’ with 
the Admiral,” Matt replied. 

“Well, I don’t know as that will do much harm, 
seein’s how Atwood an’ the city lawyer are on your 
side. Hewey is jest fool enough to think the sum- 
mer boarders would patronize his shop if this show 












A Question of Law. 


169 


was shut up ; but that’s where he’s makin’ the 
mistake of his life. All Jim Jordan’s folks are 
with you, cause they reckon on sellin’ their milk, 
while Squire Kelley is more’n willin’ the Admiral 
should raise a row, for it’ll put a few dollars in his 
pocket. It’s a question of money all the way ’round, 
an’ ’cordin to my way of thinkin’ you’ll come out 
ahead. I* wish you hadn’t got to shut down so soon, 
’cause all my boats are engaged for this evenin’, 
and I was countin’ on makin’ a fair day’s work.” 

“We are going to keep the show open, Dan, bftt 
we shan’t charge anything for coming aboard.” 

“ Is that a fact ? ” and the boatman appeared 
delighted. 44 Good for your spunk, boys ! I don’t 
believe you’ll lose a cent, ’cause jest as soon as the 
folks know why it’s a free show they’ll buy more 
stuff to make things square. Help me unload 
what belongs to you, an’ that’s more’n half of all 
I’ve got here. The boss says to me, says he, 4 1 
allow them lads will do a big business ’twixt this 
an’ Saturday night, an’ we’ll bring all they may 
need, at one load.’ Here it is, an’ I’m guessin’ it 
cost a pretty penny ; but you can stand that.” 

44 What have you got there ? ” Matt asked, as 
Dan took from the wagon a huge painted tin 
vessel. 

44 It’s to keep your lemonade in, an’ there’s a box 


170 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


of lemons goes with it. If you have sich drinks, 
and milk as well, I wouldn’t wonder if it would 
be a good idea to invest in Jamaica ginger while 
you’re about it.” 

The partners began to think, before all their 
goods had been unloaded, that Mr. Atwood had 
made his purchases recklessly, so large was the 
quantity. 

“ I reckon you’ll have to put out about as much 
as you put in yesterday, if you pay for all this,” 
Dan Fernald exclaimed when the last package had 
been laid on the sand. 

“ There’s more here than we could sell in a week, 
even if nobody bothered us,” Matt said mournfully. 
“ I wish he hadn’t bought anything, ’cause if the Ad- 
miral or Bart Denny’s crowd should make mischief 
on board while it’s all there, we’d fail up for cer- 
tain.” 

“ There won’t be any rows on that ’ere wreck, 
Matt,” Dan replied, confidently, “ though it may 
be we’ll see a few scrimmages outside, before some 
of these Spurwinkers know enough to ’tend to their 
own business. The lawyer has hired me to sleep 
here nights, and you can put it down for a fact 
that there won’t be much funny business done by 
either the bow-legged Admiral or Bart Denny. I’ll 
bring over a load of boarders ’bout eight o’clock, 
so be ready for us.” 


A Question of Law. 


171 


Then Dan drove away, and a hard hour’s work 
did the partners have in stowing away their goods 
and making ready for the day’s trade. 

They had but just gotten the deck to rights 
when Aunt Hannah came from the cottage with a 
huge bundle in her arms. 

“ Here’s your cake, Matt. I baked two loaves 
extra, in case you should need ’em.” 

“ It looks as if you thought we’d hold out here 
quite a spell, Aunt Hannah,” Spence said laugh- 
ingly, as he took the burden from her arms. 

“ You’ll stay every hour it is possible, no matter 
what happens to my property. The Admiral 
claims he’s drawed me into a law-suit, an’ he’ll find 
I’m willin’ to face him as long as he can hold out. 
I guess when it comes to the question of which is 
to be trod on, the Turners or the Johnsons, he’ll 
find we’re master hands at stickin’ up for our 
rights.” 


CHAPTER XI. 

A PROPOSITION. 

"T TELL you what it is, Matt,” Spence said, 
f(Pj when Aunt Hannah had returned home, 
JL. “ there ain’t any signs of weakening about 
her ! I was afraid she’d be terribly frightened at 
learning that the Admiral had really sued to 
obtain his fancied rights.” 

“ Oh, Aunt Hannah is clear grit when she’s 
stirred up,” Matt replied, with a smile. “ So long 
as there’s a chance of keepin’ out of a row she’s 
soft as silk, but when it comes right down to hard 
knocks, same’s it is now, her back’s stiffer’n a 
ramrod.” 

“ Let’s make some excuse to send Joey up to 
the village, in order to learn what the people say. 
I’m not afraid that the bow-legged Admiral will 
get the best of us ; but at the same time it won’t 
do any harm to know what is being done.” 

Master Pendleton was more than willing to act 
as scout, for he knew the Spurwinkers would be 
eager to learn what the partners proposed to do 
172 


A Proposition . 


173 


now they had been served with an injunction, and, 
therefore, during such time as there remained any 
information to be imparted, he would be treated 
with the utmost consideration. 

It was not probable patrons would visit the 
wreck before afternoon, therefore Joey would not 
he needed on board, and the partners preferred to 
be alone for a while, since neither believed it wise 
to allow Master Pendleton to know more of their 
business plans than was absolutely necessary. 

Joey set off in high glee because of the unex- 
pected vacation, and his employers made them- 
selves as comfortable as possible while they dis- 
cussed again and again the situation of affairs in 
all its bearings. 

At twelve o’clock Master Pendleton had not re- * 
turned. 

Mrs. Gordon summoned the boys to the noon- 
day meal, and Spence went first, leaving Matt on 
guard, although there was but little fear anyone 
would attempt to do them an injury now the ques- 
tion of ownership had been submitted to the court. 

“Well, Aunt Hannah has got a bang-up good 
dinner to-day,” Master Richmond said in a tone of 
satisfaction when he rejoined his partner. “ She 
didn’t so much as speak of the Admiral, or what 
he’s done, so I guess she isn’t losing any flesh 
over the matter.” 


174 


Admiral J. of Spurwink . 


“ It’s a bad sign when she don’t talk about 
what’s in her mind,” Matt replied, with a shake of 
his head. 

“ Why?” 

44 ’Cause she’s certain to be doin’ a power of 
think in’ ; but so long as she don’t say a word we 
won’t,” and Matt hurried down the gangway that 
he might not keep his aunt waiting for him any 
longer than was necessary. 

44 How was she ? ” Spence asked when his part- 
ner finally returned. 

44 Chipper as a sparrer, so far as you could tell 
by her face. She’s goin’ to bake more cake, 
’cause she allows we’ll do a big business, an’ is 
fussin’ ’bout our not sendin’ Joey for the milk be- 
fore he went to the village. There ain’t much 
chance visitors will come for quite a spell, so I 
reckon I’ll run over to Miss Jim Jordan’s.” 

44 All right, and while you’re gone I’ll make the 
lemonade.” 

Not until fully an hour had elapsed did Matt 
return, staggering under the weight of the heavy 
can, and he said in a tone of relief as he wiped the 
perspiration from his face : — 

44 1 guess it’s just as well I went after the 
milk, for I don’t believe Joey could have brought 
it down alone. Here’s eight quarts, an’ 1 paid 


A Proposition. 


175 


Miss Jordan forty cents out of the change I had.” 
Spence made note of the transaction in his book, 
and then handed his partner a sample glass of 
lemonade. 

“ That’s what I call good ! ” Matt replied after 
he had drained the glass. “ Did you get Aunt 
Hannah to help you ? ” 

“No; but of course I had to go to the house for 
water. Did you hear anything ? ” 

“Not much; of course the Jordans knew what 
the Admiral had done, an’ claim that he won’t 
make anything by the way he’s actin’. Here 
comes Joey, an’ we shall find out what’s goin’ on 
in the village.” 

That Master Pendleton had walked rapidly 
could readily be told by his flushed cheeks and 
heavy breathing, and from the expression on his 
face the partners knew he had considerable infor- 
mation to impart. 

“ I’ve been layin’ ’round Hewey’s store ’most of 
the time,” he said as soon as it was possible to 
speak, “ an’ of course heard all that the loafers 
knew. They say the Admiral is bound to beat us 
in the law-suit, though some of ’em don’t think 
he’ll make much by it, ’cause the wreck can’t be 
used as a show unless Aunt Hannah’s willin’ to 
let folks come across her land. Mr. Hewey 


176 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


allows he don’t care what becomes of the old hulk 
so long as you can’t sell things on her ; he says it’s 
hurt him more’n ten dollars already.” 

44 Did you see Squire Kelley? ” 

44 He’s gone into town, an’ the folks say he 
started as soon as he saw Spence’s father on the 
road. ” 

44 Do you know if the Admiral is payin’ for all 
this ? ” Matt asked a moment later. 

“Mr. Hewey’s puttin’ out some of the money, 
an’ they’ve got a paper up to his store for folks 
to sign, tellin’ how much each one is willin’ to 
pay.” 

44 Has any names been put down yet ? ” 

44 1 don’t know; but ’Siah Fernald said he 
guessed there’d be enough raised to see the thing 
through.” 

44 What do your folks think about it? ” 

44 Mother says she’s ’fraid to have me stop here, 
’cause she’s most certain Bart Denny an’ his crowd 
will raise a row before the thing is ended.” 

44 Then you don’t want to stay with us any 
longer?” and Spence drew a handful of silver from 
his pocket as if to pay Joey his w 7 ages. 

44 Indeed 1 do ! I ain’t scared of Bart Denny 
while Dan is with us, an’ I coaxed so hard that 
mother gave in ; I’ll hang out as long as you fel- 


A Proposition. 


ITT 


lers will keep me. You see — hello! here comes 
a crowd, an’ now, I reckon, business has begun.” 

The partners were on their feet instantly, fearing 
lest the new-comers might be evil-disposed persons 
from the village ; but one glance was sufficient to 
show that it was a party of Mr. Atwood’s boarders. 

“ It seems too bad to let all of them in for noth- 
in’,” Matt said, with a sigh, and Spence responded 
cheerily : — 

“ Now don’t cry for spilled milk. It’s a good 
deal better to have them on board buying things 
than to turn everybody away. I only hope the 
Admiral is sneaking around where he can see that 
we haven’t shut up shop entirely.” 

There was no necessity of explaining to the visi- 
tors that an admission fee could not be charged. 
Dan Fernald had taken good care all the boarders 
should know of the trouble which had come upon 
the young showmen, and many were the expres- 
sions of sympathy and encouragement which greet- 
ed Matt as he assisted the guests over the rail. 

Although it was not necessary anyone should 
be at the gangway, because no money could be 
received, Master Turner remained at his post as 
party after party arrived, and the kindly words 
which were spoken went very far toward reconcil- 
ing him for the pecuniary loss. 


178 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


At about four o’clock, when the decks were 
literally thronged with visitors, Matt was forced 
to assist in waiting upon the customers, for the 
demands for wares of all kinds, and particularly 
sea-shells, were many and often repeated. 

Spence’s mother and sister were among the 
patrons, and they reported that neither Mr. Rich- 
mond nor Mr. Atwood had returned from the city. 

“Your father told me not to be uneasy if he 
failed to come back to-night, and from that I fancy 
he believed the task might be prolonged, if not 
difficult,” Mrs. Richmond said in reply to her son’s 
question. 

“ Did he seem to think everything could be 
fixed?” 

“ He said you need not be alarmed, because Ad- 
miral Johnson has no claim upon the wreck.” 

It was nearly six o’clock when the last of the 
visitors departed, and the partners made up the 
cash account at once, so impatient were they to 
learn how the afternoon’s work compared with that 
of the previous day. 

“I know we’ve done a rushin’ trade,” Joey said 
while Spence was counting the money, “for I’ve 
had to bring stuff out’er the cabin more’n a dozen 
times, an’ we had a big pile up here in the first 
place.” 


A Proposition . 


179 


“We’ve taken twenty-one dollars and fifteen 
cents,” Spence finally announced, and added, as lie 
referred to his book, “Yesterday afternoon the 
admissions and what was sold came to twenty-two 
dollars and eighty -five cents. I can’t see hut that 
we’ve made almost as much as if we’d been paid a 
dime by each one who came. If Mr. Hewey 
hears of this he’ll be willing to add to his subscrip- 
tion, for so far it seems as if his money had been 
the same as thrown away.” 

“ I heard a good many say they were coming this 
evenin’, an’ we’d better begin to get ready for ’em. 
The milk is gone, an’ Joey must go for another 
gallon. He can carry that much, I reckon.” 

“ The folks seemed to like Aunt Hannah’s cake, 
didn’t they?” Master Pendleton asked in delight, 
as he took the money handed him by Spence to pay 
for the milk. “ There’s only one whole loaf left, 
an’ if she didn’t bake more this afternoon we’ll be 
kind’er short on that sort of grub before the 
evenin’s over.” 

“ Hurry to Miss Jordan’s as fast as you can,” 
Matt interrupted, an’ there’s no need for you to 
tell her how big a business we’ve done.” 

“ What shall I say if she asks me ? ” 

“ Tell her there were a good many people here, 
but we couldn’t charge ’em anything for coming 


180 


Admiral J. of Spurwmh. 


on board,” and Matt began to sweep the decks, 
while Spence rearranged the booths. 

While they were thus employed, too busy to 
indulge in conversation, the partners were surprised 
almost to the verge of bewilderment by seeing 
Aunt Hannah, escorted by Squire Kelley, coming 
up the gangway. 

44 Somethin’ has gone wrong now, for a fact,” 
Matt muttered, as he ran forward to assist his aunt, 
and an expression of deepest anxiety came over 
Spence’s face. 

44 1 declare, you boys have fixed the old hulk up 
in great shape,” the Squire said, in what he in- 
tended should be a friendly tone, as he gazed 
around in astonishment. 44 1 don’t wonder the 
summer boarders want to come here ; but I’m posi- 
tive they would curb their desires if they knew 
how it was tempting you young folks.” 

44 What’s the matter, Aunt Hannah ? ” Matt 
whispered, paying no attention to the words of 
praise. 44 How did you happen to come over ? ” 

44 Squire Kelley called to make what he calls a 
proposition,” Aunt Hannah replied, raising her 
voice in order that Spence might hear all she said. 
44 1 told him that if he wanted to talk business it 
must be done before you boys, an’ when he saw I 
wouldn’t listen to him in the house he brought me 
here.” 


A Proposition . 


181 


Matt turned toward the visitor inquiringly, and 
after clearing his throat with much unnecessary 
noise, and seating himself on the rail where he could 
see his audience plainly, Squire Kelley began-: — 

“ I came over here as a neighbor to talk with 
Mrs. Gordon about this unhappy affair. It distresses 
me, as it must every inhabitant of Spurwink, to 
have harsh feelings between friends, and more par- 
ticularly when they have arisen over such a worth- 
less object as this wreck.” 

The Squire paused as if expecting a reply, and 
Spence said gravely : — 

“ It strikes me it’s a little too late to make such 
talk. You’ve gotten out an injunction against us, 
and that is about the length of your rope until the 
matter is settled by law.” 

“ Yes,” Aunt Hannah added almost sharply; “ no 
one had a kind word until after everything had been 
done an’ it was too late to mend matters.” 

“ But it isn’t too late, Mrs. Gordon, and I have 
come over here to act the part of peacemaker. There 
is no reason why these unpleasant and unneighbor- 
ly proceedings shouldn’t be stopped at once.” 

“ Are you willing to take back the injunction ? ” 
Matt asked eagerly. 

“ That is something over which I have no con- 
trol ; but I hope to convince Admiral — Mr. John- 
son, that it should be done.” 


182 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“Then why don’t you begin on him ? Aunt Han- 
nah can’t do anything towards stoppin’ the row.” 

“ That is where you are mistaken, Matthew. She 
can do very much, and I hope to get her agreement 
to the plan which I have to propose. When that 
has been done I believe the — Mr. J ohnson will lis- 
ten to reason. It is very improbable that she has 
any claim to the wreck simply because it chances 
to have come ashore at this particular spot. If the 
court decides she has no rights in the matter, as the 
people of Spurwink now believe will be the case, 
she must pay a large bill of costs, and perhaps lay 
herself liable to damages because of what she has 
permitted you boys to do. Now it would distress 
me deeply to see Mrs. Gordon stripped of her prop- 
erty in her old age, for — ” 

“Never mind tellin’ us ’bout what might hap- 
pen, for you’re only guessin’ at it,” Matt said sharp- 
ly, and his aunt nodded emphatically to show he 
had. spoken wisely. “ If you’ve got a proposition 
to make we can hear it; but I don’t think it’ll do 
much good till after we’ve seen Mr. Richmond an’ 
Mr. Atwood.” 

“ I met them both in the city to-day. Now I am 
not questioning Mr. Richmond’s ability ; but it 
stands to reason that he is not familiar with the 
laws of this state, and, while he means well by 
Mrs. Gordon, may be making a serious mistake — ” 


A Proposition. 


183 


“That’s his lookout,” Spence cried, “and you 
don’t have any reason to weep about it.” 

“ Now we are allowing personal feelings to bias 
our judgment, as I feared would be the case if you 
boys were allowed to participate in the consulta- 
tion.” 

• “ Tell me what you wanted to say at the bouse,” 

Aunt Hannah interrupted. “ I’m gettin’ so old an’ 
pokey that I can’t keep track of what’s bein’ said 
if you fly from one thing to another so fast.” 

Squire Kelly gazed reprovingly at Spence an 
instant, and then said slowly, as if uncertain 
whether he was warranted in offering such gener- 
ous terms : — 

“ The citizens of Spurwink, hoping this feeling 
of harshness which has arisen among us may be al- 
layed, have advised me to make an offer of settle- 
ment to Mrs. Gordon while there is yet time to 
arrange the matter, and promising on their part that 
the Ad — Mr. Johnson shall be brought to agree 
to the terms. If Mrs. Gordon will promise that 
you boys do not make a show of the wreck, and 
that those who want to view her as a curiosity be 
allowed to cross her land for that purpose, the com- 
plaint which has resulted in the injunction will be 
withdrawn. The costs can be paid by popular sub- 
scription, and she saved the fear of being made 
homeless in her old age — ” 


184 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


u Do you mean that I shall forbid Matt from 
keepin' store here, an’ let whoever wants to come, 
traipse over my place?” Aunt Hannah interrupted. 

“ If the case is decided against you, as the best 
people of the village believe will be the result, 
Matt cannot be allowed to keep a store on the 
wreck, and you must pay the legal costs in addi- 
tion— ” 

“ Look at me, Squire Kelley,” Aunt Hannah 
said sternly as she rose to her feet. “ I’m an old 
woman, an’ have lived in this town ever since I 
was born, doin’ my duty to my neighbors ’cordin’ to 
the best of my ability. The past ten years it has 
been weary work to earn enough for the taxes, an’ 
to buy the little we’ve had to eat. Now, when Matt, 
who hasn’t been able to go to school more’n two 
months out of the year because he’s obleeged to do 
somethin’ in the way of bringin’ in money, gets a 
chance to turn an honest penny, the Spurwinkers 
are up in arms about it. They can take the land I 
own, if the law says so, an’ they can send me to the 
poorhouse, perhaps, but they can’t make me veer 
this way or that to their whims. You’ve begun the 
law-suit, an’ it would be a deal more manly in 
you to go on with it, than to come here tryin’ to 
frighten an’ old woman an’ two children. That's 
what I’ve got to say to your proposition, Squire 
Kelley.” 


A Proposition. 


185 


“Don’t be hasty in arriving at a decision, Mrs. 
Gordon. Yon may be sorry afterward, an’ I hope 
you’ll think the matter over calmly, and at your 
leisure.” 

“I’m as calm -now as I’ve been any minute since 
Admiral J. begun cuttin’ up sich shines, an’ no 
matter how sorry I may be, I can never feel as bad 
as you should for cornin’ here on this errand.” 

Then, waiting neither for a reply nor to be as- 
sisted over the rail, Aunt Hannah went down the 
gangway more nimbly than Matt had seen her move 
in many years, and the Squire stood gazing after 
her as if doubting whether he had not really re- 
ceived a lecture based on homely truth. 

“ I guess you’ve heard all there is to be said, sir,” 
and Spence changed his position in order to face the 
visitor. “ Aunt Hannah don’t scare very easy, and 
it is just possible the case may not be decided as 
the 4 best people’ of this town seem to believe.” 

“You’re an impudent boy! ” Squire Kelley said 
angrily as he literally glared at Spence an instant, 
and then went over the rail with a very poor show 
of dignity. 

“ We’ll keep our eyes on him,” Matt cried as he 
ran out on the gangway. “ He shan’t go up an’ 
badger Aunt Hannah, not if I have to throw him 
out of the house ! The idea of his the same as say- 
in’ Admiral J. didn’t know he was cornin’ here ! ” 


186 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


“ I wouldn’t wonder if that part of it was really 
true, Matt. I believe Mr. Hewey sent him ; the 
storekeeper wants to make us shut up shop, and, 
finding that we couldn’t be prevented from selling 
goods, is trying another plan.” 

“ Then how could they promise Admiral J. should 
agree to their scheme ? ” 

“ Of course I don’t know ; hut most likely he 
would do whatever they said if all hands came 
down on him. If he — Hurrah ! Here comes father 
and Mr. Atwood ! Now we shall know whether we 
can run the show or not.” 

Squire Kelley did not venture to pay Aunt Han- 
nah a second visit, although what he might have 
done but for the appearance of the two gentlemen 
is quite another matter. 

He evidently did not wish to meet them, for he 
suddenly turned to the left, although by such a 
course it became necessary to wade through the 
loose sand, and was soon lost to view among the 
scrub oaks that bordered the shore. 

“ Can we open the show ? ” Spence cried before 
his father had time to alight. 

“ Not to-night. There is little doubt but that 
you may do so to-morrow, for we have been very 
successful in arranging the question of bail. Who 
is that gentleman going across the sands ? ” 


A Proposition. 


187 


“ Squire Kelley ; lie’s been trying to frighten 
Aunt Hannah into promising we shouldn’t be al- 
lowed to run the show.” 

“ Did he threaten ? ” Mr. Richmond asked 
sharply. 

“ Not exactly ; but he had a good deal to say 
about her losing all she owned if the case went 
against her.” 

“ Rather sharp practice, eh, Atwood ? ” 

The landlord nodded. 

“ Kelley knows the decision will be against him, 
and is doing this in behalf of Hewey.” 

“ Ain’t you coming on board ? ” Spence inter- 
rupted. 

“Not to-night. I shall be obliged to go to the 
city early to-morrow, and am in need of rest. Have 
you done any business ? ” 

“ Sold over twenty-one dollars’ worth of stuff.” 

“You did not charge an admission?” 

“No, sir.” 

“ See to it that you don’t until I give you per- 
mission. I think it is safe to promise, however, 
that there will be nothing to interfere with your 
plans after twenty-four hours have elapsed.” 

Then the two gentlemen drove away, and the 
partners, clasping hands, danced to and fro over 
the deck in the excess of their joy at the good tid- 
ings. 


188 


Admiral J. of Spunvink . 


They were thus engaged when Master Pendleton 
came on board with the milk, and he stood looking 
at them in speechless astonishment until the demon- 
strations of joy Avere concluded, when he said in a 
tone of surprise : — 

“ I allowed I’d find you all doubled up, after I 
saw Squire Kelley goin’ up the beach. Ain’t he 
been here ? ” 

“ Yes ; but he didn’t do any very great amount 
of harm, and father says most likely we can open 
the show in regular shape after to-morrow.” 

It was only natural Joey should be eager to 
hear the news, and his employers soon gave him a 
general idea of all that had occurred during his ab- 
sence. 

“ Well, I hope it’ll turn out as your father says ! ” 
Master Pendleton exclaimed as he dragged the tin 
can into the cabin. “ An’ so does Miss Jim Jordan. 
She says she’d rather sell her milk at home, than 
cartin’ it all over the country huntin’ for a creamery, 
an’ the next time she meets Admiral J. he’ll get a 
piece of her mind.” 


CHAPTER XII. 


AN EXPLOSION. 

ATT did not have an opportunity to get 
IA/J supper on this evening ; before the work 
^ A JL of making ready fort he expected visitors 
was finished, Dan Fernald rowed up with a party 
of eight, explaining, as he moored the craft where 
she would not be in the way of the others which 
would arrive at a later hour : — 

“ The people I brought have been to a clam- 
bake on the Neck, an’ so, of course, didn’t want 
supper at the hotel. They thought it would 
be high fun to get a lunch here before goin’ home, 
an’ I didn’t say anythin’ agin the plan.” 

44 Have you seen father or Mr. Atwood yet ? ” 

44 Yes, we stopped at the hotel for the women 
folks to get shawls an’ sich like, an’ the boss came 
down to the shore for a minute.” 

44 Then you know we’ll most likely be able to go 
on with the show ? ” 

44 1 allowed as much as that when I knew who 
was workin’ in your interests. Men like Jethro 

189 


190 Admiral J. of Spur wink. 

Atwood an’ your father don't generally figger on 
gettin’ beaten. It seems to me, though, as if they 
was growin’ kinder scarey when there ain’t any 
need of it.” 

“ What makes you think so ? ” 

« Mr. Atwood told me I was to stick by you 
fellows mighty close to-night, even if I had to hire 
someone in my place to pull the boat back.” 

“Does he think there may be mischief on foot?” 
and Matt looked disturbed. 

“ That’s what I allowed, though I can’t for the 
life of me make out why he should get sicli an 
idee in his mind. Admiral J. will take good care 
not to come foolin’ ’round, ’cause he knows you 
wouldn’t be any too tender with him if he tried to 
be funny. As for Bart Denny, why, he don’t 
want the least little bit of truck with me ; I told 
him this mornin’ jest what I’d do if he got too 
free.” 

“ Didn’t Mr. Atwood explain what he meant ? ” 

“ There wasn’t any chance, for by the time he’d 
said that much the party was ready to leave, an’ it 
wouldn’t have been sound sense for him to let your 
customers have an inklin’ there might be trouble 
here. But don’t allow what I have said to make 
you turn a hair, my boy. We’ll keep our eyes 
open mighty sharp to-night, an’ if Bart or his gang 
get the best of us it’ll be our fault.” 


An Explosion. 


191 


Matt went on board the wreck ill at ease, for 
there was now in his mind the thought that, even 
though the law-suit should be decided in his favor, 
it was possible Admiral J. or his alleged friends 
could destroy the wreck. 

Boat-load after boat-load of pleasure seekers 
arrived, and in less than an hour after the first 
came on board the last slice of Aunt Hannah’s 
cake had been sold, and the guests were calling for 
more. 

“ Perhaps she baked some this afternoon when 
she saw what a crowd we had here,” Spence sug- 
gested. “ Why not run over to the house and 
see ? ” 

Matt started off at full speed, and when he 
reached the cottage it was to find his aunt waiting 
patiently at the supper-table. 

“ I meant to have sent J oey over to tell you we 
couldn’t come for anything to eat; but business 
was so good that T forgot all about it,” he cried, 
apologetically. 

“ Do you mean that you won’t be here for the 
least little bite ? ” 

“We can’t, Aunt Hannah. The folks began to 
come before dark, an’ they’ve kept on till the 
wreck is reg’larly crowded. All the cake is gone, 
an’ we thought perhaps you might have a little 
more.” 


192 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“ So I have, Matthew, four loaves.” 

“ That’s lucky ! Where are they ? I can’t wait 
here many minutes, else we might lose some trade.” 

It was in vain the old lady pleaded Avith him to 
eat “ jest a morsel ” while she wrapped the loaves 
in “ somethin’ clean.” He Avas so eager to return 
to his place of business that she finally ceased try- 
ing to persuade him, and instantly the cake had 
been made ready he ran away at fall speed. 

The evening was a repetition of the afternoon. 
The guests appeared determined to buy enough to 
atone for not having paid an admission fee, and the 
stock of goods which had seemed so large when it 
was unloaded from the Avagon dwindled rapidly. 

Dan Fernald remained on the bow of the Avreck, 
or on the sands just outside, during the entire 
evening, and when the customers were ready to 
depart he called Matt aside for a consultation. 

“I’m as certain as a man can be that there 
hasn’t been a Spurwinker anywhere near here since 
I come, an’ even if there should be mischief afoot, 
it ain’t no ways likely any would be tried for quite 
a spell after the last summer boarder leaves.” 

“You mean that you Avant to i*oav your party 
home ? ” 

“ That’s the size of it, Matt. It looks better 
that wa}% an’ then agin I don’t knoAV who I could 
hire to take my place.” 


An Explosion. 


193 


“ There’s no reason why you shouldn’t go, Dan. 
Instead of cleanin’ up to-nighfc all hands of us will 
stand watch till you get back, an’ it don’t seem to 
me that we’re in any danger.” 

44 The only chance is that Bart Denny might 
show up, an’ if I wasn’t here, would come aboard.” 

44 He’ll have a hard time of it, for a spell any- 
way,” and a look of determination spread over 
Matt’s face. 

44 That’s right, my boy ; I ain’t afraid but that 
you three could stand him off quite a while, an’ I 
won’t be gone more’n half an hour.” 

By this time Dan’s patrons were waiting for 
him, and he whispered, before he took his station 
in the boat : — 

44 It’ll take quite a spell before the others get off, 
an’ I’ll see that my men don’t hurry any too much, 
so you won’t be alone all the time I’m gone.” 

44 Don’t worry about us ; we can take care of 
ourselves for half an hour, and if not, we deserve 
to get the worst of it.” 

Fifteen minutes later the last visitor had de- 
parted, and when Matt was alone with his partner 
and clerk he repeated what the boatman had said. 

44 We must keep our eyes open till Dan gets 
back, ’cause we can’t afford to take any chances ; 
but I don’t believe we’ve got much call to be 
afraid.” 


194 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“Let’s go down on the beach where we can see 
better,” Spence suggested, but Joey did not favor 
the plan. 

He insisted it was best to remain on board, for 
there they would be able to defend themselves with 
greater chance of success if Bart Denny and his 
friends should come. 

It was evident Master Pendleton was afraid to 
go down on the beach, and Spence said petu- 
lantly : — 

“ If you won’t follow us, stay on the bow and 
watch the shore as sharp as you know how. Come 
on, Matt ; we’ll get a couple of clubs, and I’ll an- 
swer for it there won’t be any mischief done while 
Dan is away, unless the whole village of Spur- 
wink jumps down on us.” 

When the sound of the oars told that the boat- 
man was returning, nothing had been heard to be- 
token the presence of an enemy, and Matt said, 
with a sigh of relief : — 

“ I guess I was more scared than hurt, for if 
Bart’s crowd counted on doin’ mischief, some of 
’em should be down here before this. But what 
puzzles me is, why Mr. Atwood got it into his 
head anything was wrong ? ” 

“ Perhaps Dan has talked with him again,” 
Spence suggested, and when the bow of the dory 


An Explosion. 195 

grated on the sand, he asked, “ Did you see the 
landlord when you were at the hotel ? ” 

“ Jest long enough to find out why he was anx- 
ious about you, an’ I allow he had good reason. 
Of course we didn’t have much time for talk, 
’cause I allowed it was necessary to get back here ; 
but — ” 

“ What did he tell you ? ” Spence asked impa- 
tiently. 

“ That’s what I’m coinin’ to if you give me a 
chance. When he drove through the village he 
stopped at Hewey’s store, an’ saw the shop-keeper 
talkin’ as chummy as you please with Bart. The 
two looked kinder mixed up when he come in, an’ 
Denny went out precious quick.” 

“ But I don’t see what there is in that bit of 
news to give us a scare.” 

“ Neither did the boss till after he heard that 
Squire Kelley had been down try in’ to frighten 
your Aunt Hannah. Then it struck him that 
Hewey might be lay in’ plans to make sure the 
wreck shouldn’t bother him in case the Squire 
didn’t manage to scare Mrs. Gordon into doin’ as 
he wanted. Have you heard anything since I’ve 
been gone ? ” 

“Not the least suspicious sound,” Spence replied. 
“ Matt and I have been on the beach "where we 


196 


Admiral J. of SpurivinJc. 


could see plainly, and I’m almost certain there 
isn't a Spurwinker nearer than the village.” 

“I’ll have a look around, and then we’ll plan 
what’s to be done for the night. Mr. Atwood’s 
orders were for me to keep my weather eye liftin’ 
all the time, an’ I shall do it even though I don’t 
believe there’s any cause for such caution.” 

“ I’m goin’ with you,” Spence said, as the boat- 
man moved away. “ The others can attend to 
cleaning up, and when we get back I’ll lend a 
hand.” 

Dan would have objected to having company 
but that Master Richmond was so decided, and 
when the two were lost to view amid the scrub 
oaks, Matt went on board the wreck, where he 
found Joey generously sampling the milk he had 
brought from “Miss Jim Jordan’s.” 

“ It would sour before mornin’, an’ I thought it 
was a pity to let so much go to waste,” he ex- 
plained in an apologetic tone as his employer 
appeared. 

“ That’s all right, Joey ; but when anything like 
that is done we ought all to come in for a share.” 

“Dan Fernald wouldn’t want milk, an’ there’s 
much as a pint left for you an’ Spence.” 

Matt had too much on his mind to spend a great 
deal of time on the subject of milk, and set about 


An Explosion . 


197 


sweeping the decks and carrying the remnants of 
their stock into the cabin, a work in which he was 
assisted, after some dela} r , by Master Pendleton. 

Dan and Spence were absent considerably more 
than half an hour, and when they came on board 
again the boatman said in a decided tone: — 

“ It’s dead sure there’s nobody skulkin’ ’round 
anywhere near us, an’ I reckon the boss was more 
scared than hurt ; but all the same we’ll stand 
watch like little men. We’ll draw lots to see who 
shall begin the work, an’ when the rest can turn 
in.” 

By this means it was decided Matt should remain 
awake the first hour, and then Joey, Dan and 
Spence would follow in the order mentioned. 

“ Better leave your work of fixin’ up the shop 
till mornin,’ ’cause it’s nigh on to midnight,” Dan 
said, motioning for the boys to go below. “ I’ll 
hang my watch on one of the beams, an’ we’ll 
keep a lantern burnin’ so the fellow on duty can 
see the time. In an hour Matt is to call Joey, an’ 
when the second trick comes ’round, Spence must 
do his share.” 

Then the boatman laid himself down in one of 
the berths, Spence and Master Pendleton quickly 
following his example, aud ten minutes later Matt 
Avas pacing the deck forward and aft on the alert 
for the slightest suspicious sound. 


198 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


Once lie thought he saw a dark form upon the 
beach, and stole cautiously out on the gangway, 
where he could have a better view ; but after a 
close scrutiny he decided it was nothing more than 
the shadow of a cloud, and returned to the deck. 

He remained on duty ten minutes longer than 
had been agreed upon, and then proceeded to rouse 
Joey, which was no slight task, since that young 
gentleman proved to be a remarkably heavy sleeper, 
allowing himself to be pulled out on the floor be- 
fore opening his eyes. 

“ Come, Joey, look alive ! ” Matt whispered. “ It 
ain’t fair to wake the other fellers, an’ that’s what 
I’ve come near doin’ tryin’ to get some sense into 
you.” 

“I was awful sleepy,” Master Pendleton replied, 
with a yawn. “ It don’t seem as if I’ve been in bed 
more’n five minutes.” 

“ I’ve let you lay full ten minutes over the hour. 
Come on deck so’s I can be certain you are awake, 
an’ then I’ll turn in.” 

“ I don’t believe there’s any need of all this 
fuss,” Joey grumbled as he ascended the compan- 
ion-way stairs. “If Bart’s crowd counted on mak- 
in’ trouble they’d been here long before this.” 

“We’d better be sure than sorry, an’ you’re only 
to do as much as the rest of us.” 


An Explosion. 


199 


“ Where shall I stay ? ” 

“ Walk ’round, an’ then you’ll be certain to keep 
awake.” 

“ Do you mean that I’ve got to travel back an’ 
forth a whole hour.” 

“ Of course, else how can you stand watch as it 
should be done ? If you keep movin’ there’s no 
chance anybody can slip up on us.” 

Then Matt turned to go below, stopped an in- 
stant as if reconsidering his determination, and fi- 
nally disappeared from view. 

He was doubtful as to whether Joey would act 
the part of a sentinel faithfulty, and almost persuad- 
ed it would be better for him to do double duty 
than entrust the work to a cowardly boy who had 
shown himself inclined to indolence. 

The desire for slumber was weighing upon his 
eyelids, however, and he compromised with himself 
by promising that he would sleep only a few 
moments at a time, going on deck now and then to 
make certain the clerk was doing his full duty. 

Then his eyes closed in unconsciousness, and all 
thoughts of protecting his property were drowned 
by the dream-elves, who wove entrancing pictures 
for his benefit. 

Meanwhile Joey was struggling against the de- 
sire to return to the cabin. The night wind was 


200 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


chilling ; the silence, save for the heating of the 
surf against the shore, so profound as to be almost 
terrifying, and such labor seemed useless. 

He paced slowly the length of the deck half a 
dozen times, and then decided it was absolutely 
necessary he should sit down under the lee of the 
deck-house a short time. 

“ There’s no sense in walkin’ ’round this old 
wreck all the time, an’ I can keep watch jest as 
well if I’m where it’s warm.” 

The sobbing of the waters, the gentle sighing of 
the night wind, and the comparative warmth, soon 
caused Master Pendleton to forget all else save 
the pleasure of closing his heavy eyelids an instant, 
and once that was done his usefulness as a sentinel 
had vanished. 

He slept as only a tired boy can sleep, uncon- 
scious of the fact, that, half an hour later, two fig- 
ures crept cautiously out from among the scrub 
oaks, listened intently a brief time, and then ad- 
vanced stealthily toward the wreck. 

If Master Pendleton had been awake he would 
have seen the newcomers continue on until lost 
to view under the bow of the hulk, where a cer- 
tain scratching, grating noise could be heard for 
several minutes, after which the intruders ran 
swiftly back to the shelter of the scrub oaks. 


An Explosion. 


201 


Then, had the sentinel’s eyes been open, he 
would have seen a dim glow, heard a slight crack- 
ling noise, and the odor of burning powder might 
have warned him of danger which menaced. 

As it was, however, Joey heard nothing; was 
conscious of nothing until a deafening report rang 
out — the bow of the wreck seemed to be literally 
lifted up, and the hulk settled hack on the sands 
with a crash that was mingled with the rending 
and splintering of timbers. 

Joey was on his feet in an instant, all vestiges 
of slumber frightened from his eyelids, and in the 
gloom of the night he saw a dense cloud of smoke 
enveloping th<# forward portion of the wreck. 

“Fire! Fire! Fire!” he shouted at the full 
strength of his lungs, and then he ran in the ex- 
tremity of his terror to the cabin. 

He reached the companion-way just as Dan Fer- 
nald was ascending, and the collision could not be 
avoided. 

Joey was launched against the boatman like an 
arrow from a bow, and the two rolled over and 
over to the floor beneath, increasing, if that could 
be possible, the bewilderment of the partners. 

“ What has happened ? ” Matt cried as he leaped 
from his bunk, alighting squarely on Master Pen- 
dleton, and causing him to scream loudly in mingled 
pain and terror. 


202 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


“ This fool Joey has knocked me down, ’ Dan 
cried angrily as, after some difficulty, he rose to 
his feet and darted up the companion-way. 

“ What was that noise ? ” Matt asked of the 
screaming clerk, as he in turn regained his footing. 

Joey was unable to reply, and even though words 
had come at his command, he could have given 
no explanation of what had occurred. 

Matt was on deck, with Spence close at his heels, 
just as Dan came back at full speed, crying as he 
saw the partners : — 

“ Light the lanterns. There’s been a worse at- 
tempt made than ever the boss dreamed of ! Who 
was on watch?” 

“Joey,” Matt replied as he disappeared within 
the cabin once more, and Dan muttered : — 

“ Most likely he went to sleep as soon as he was 
left alone.” 

“ What has happened ? ” Spence demanded. 

“ I can’t tell for certain; but it looks as if some- 
one had been tryin’ to blow up the wreck. I can 
smell powder, an' went forward far enough to see 
that the bow is badly stove.” 

Matt soon had two lanterns lighted, and with 
these the partners and the boatman went forward, 
leaving Master Pendleton lying prone upon the 
floor in an agony of terror. 


An .Explosion. 203 

When Dan would have stepped out on to the ' 
gangway he saw that the structure had disappeared, 
and stood on the rail an instant holding the lantern 
low, in order to make certain there was nothing 
there which might inflict an injury, after which he 
leaped to the beach. 

44 Some of them sneakin’ Spurwinkers have done 
jest what I thought. The how is splintered from 
the keel up, an’ there’s a hole in the sand big enough 
to bury a house. Be careful where you jump ! ” 
he added, and a few seconds later the partners 
were by his side. 

44 That’s enough to tell the whole- story,” Dan 
said, as he swung the lantern around to illuminate 
the scene. 44 They’ve done their best to blow the 
hulk to pieces, an’ if that had been done we’d gone 
up with her. I’d like to have my hands on Bart 
Denny for about three minutes ! ” 

44 It looks as if they’d tried to blow out sand 
instead of destroyin’ the hulk,” Spence said, as he 
leaned over to examine more closely the effect of 
the explosive. 

44 That’s because the idiots didn’t know enough 
about sich things to last ’em over night. They’ve 
used dynamite, an’ most of the force has gone 
downward, for that’s the way the stuff works. 
The sand didn’t offer much resistance, an’ the hulk 


204 


Admiral J. of Sjmrwink. 


got the smallest end of the blow. If they’d had 
sense enough to do it with powder, most likely we 
wouldn’t be standin’ here so comfortable.” 

A slight noise as of some one approaching caused 
the little part}^ to start back, in fear of an attack, 
but instead of an enemy they saw Aunt Hannah, 
her head enveloped in a blanket. 

“ What made that terrible noise ? ” she asked, 
in a quavering voice. “ I thought you boys had 
been killed.” 

“It ain’t the fault of Admiral J.’s friends that 
we wasn’t blowed higher’n a kite, Mrs. Gordon,” 
Dan replied hotly. “ Some of the Spurwink 
beauties have been tryin’ their luck with dynamite.” 

“ Is that what made sich a terrible noise ? ” and 
Aunt Hannah advanced to Matt’s side that she 
might see more clearly. 

“ Nothin’ else, an’ it’s been a narrow squeak for 
all hands.” 

Matt fully expected to see his aunt display signs 
of terror, as he had known of her doing at some 
trifling accident ; but in this he was mistaken. It 
was as if the knowledge of deadly danger gave the 
old lady courage, for her voice suddenly grew 
steady as she asked : — 

“ How did they get so near without your knowin’ 
it, Matthew? ” 


An Explosion. 205 

44 Joey was on watch, an’ he must have gone to 
sleep.” 

44 Why don’t you try to find out who did the 
mischief? They can’t be very far away.” 

44 It wouldn’t be any use to hunt for ’em now, 
Mrs. Gordon,” Dan replied. 44 They most likely 
put a long fuse to the cartridge, an’ were well off 
before the explosion.” 

44 I’m not goin’ to lose my temper,” she said, as 
if it was necessary to reassure herself ; 44 but if we 
can get proof against the rascals who did sich a 
murderous deed, I will see to it that they are 
punished.” 

44 I’m goin’ to take a hand in somethin’ like that 
myself, Mrs. Gordon, as soon as I come across 
Bart Denny.” 

44 Do you know he did it?” Aunt Hannah asked, 
sharply. 

44 I’ve got reasons enough for tliinkin’ so to make 
me pretty certain a sound floggin’ won’t be wasted, 
though I couldn’t swear to anything.” 

44 You must rule your spirit, Daniel Fernald, an’ 
beware of judgin’ wrongfully. It would be wicked 
to lift your hand against Bartholomew with no 
other reason than your suspicions. Are any of 
you hurt ? ” 

44 1 guess J oey is bruised a little, for he an’ Dan 


206 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


tumbled downstairs, and then Matt jumped on 
them,” Spence replied, with a laugh. 

Aunt Hannah would have insisted Master Pen- 
dleton be examined, in order to ascertain if he was 
in need of nursing, but that Dan dismissed the 
subject unceremoniously. 

“ Don’t bother your head about him, Mrs. Gor- 
don, for he’s come to no great harm, that I’ll 
guarantee. You had better go home, for this night 
wind won’t help your rheumatism, an’ we’ll take 
care of matters ’round here a good deal better, from 
this out, than we have done.” 

Suddenly remembering the penalty she might 
be called upon to pay for thus venturing forth 
insufficiently clad, Aunt Hannah went swiftly up 
the beach to her home, and the boys examined at 
their leisure the injury done the wreck. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


REPAIRING DAMAGES. 

EFORE the partners concluded their exam- 
ination of the damage done the wreck, Joey 
l imJ made his appearance, leaning over the rail 
carelessly as he asked curiously : — 

“ Do you s’pose it was Bart’s crowd what blowed 
us up ?” 

“ I don’t think we have been blown very far,” 
Spence replied, with a laugh, and then the expres- 
sion of mirth left his face suddenly as he said stern- 
ly, “It seems certain you went to sleep, although 
knowing how important it was for the safety of all 
that you should keep careful watch.” 

“I didn’t shut my eyes for more’n a minute be- 
fore the thing went off.” 

“ Where were you ? ” 

“ I’d gone under the lee of the deck-house jest a 
second to get warm.” 

“ I warned you to keep on walking,” Matt said 
quickly. 

“ That’s so ; but how was a feller to do it when 

207 


208 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


he was tired most to death? I’d been runnin’ ’round 
since mornin,’ without even a chance to get any- 
thing to eat, an’ I had to rest some time, didn’t I? ” 

“ There’s no use raisin’ a row now when the 
trouble’s over,” Dan said philosophically. “ I’m the 
one to blame, for I should have stood watch alone.” 

“It would he strange if three boys of our size 
couldn’t help out long enough to let you have a nap. 
I’m the most at fault, for when I left Joey I was 
most certain he’d go to sleep.” 

“ What’s the use of blaming ourselves, or each 
other?” Spence interrupted. “The danger is over, 
and the most important question to be settled, so far 
as we’re concerned, is whether the wreck has been 
injured very much.” 

“ When it comes to that, she’s in better condition 
for a show than before, an’ after the hole in the sand 
has been filled up, I allow the hulk is worth a good 
bit more.” 

“ How do you make that out ? ” Matt asked cu- 
riously. 

“It’s easy enough. Yesterday all you could show 
was a wreck what had drifted ashore ; now you’ve 
got the same craft after she’s been blown up by a 
dynamite cartridge. Ain’t she more of a curiosity 
than ever? ” 

“ It may be possible ; but I doubt it,” Spence re- 


Repairing Damages. 


209 


plied thoughtfully. “ I’m afraid customers won’t 
dare to come here now, for fear the Spurwinkers 
may try the same game when there’s a crowd on 
board.” 

44 The ones what did this mischief will keep shady 
for a spell, that you may depend upon.” 

44 The same was said about Admiral J. after he’d 
nearly murdered Matt; but yet he bobbed up se- 
renely, ready again for mischief, within twenty-four 
hours. Whoever exploded the cartridge was backed 
by some of the villagers, and will be bold, even 
though a serious offense has been committed, be- 
cause of those behind them.” 

44 You’re arguin’ ’bout as well as your father 
could, I reckon ; but at the same time I don’t be- 
lieve there’s reason to fear another move right 
away,” Dan said with an air of wisdom. 44 If I’m 
any judge of human nature, Mrs. Gordon is well 
primed to make trouble for somebody.” 

44 What can Aunt Hannah do ? ” 

44 That’s a question I can’t answer, seein’s I don’t 
know what kind of a plan she’s got in her head ; 
but I’ll give big odds she stirs up a hornet’s nest 
in Spurwink before this time to-morrow.” 

Neither Matt nor Spence believed it would be 
possible for the old lady to effect very much where 
Lawyer Richmond and Mr. Atwood had failed, 


210 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


but Dan was so positive that they finally allowed 
the subject to drop, and turned their attention to 
estimating the amount of damage done. 

“ The gangway must be rebuilt,” Spence said, 
after a careful examination, “ and it will take some 
time to fill up that hole.” 

“ I’ll agree to have it done before daylight if 
you’ll get me a shovel,” Dan interrupted. 

“ But you need more sleep, ” Spence objected. 

“ You had only about an hour in your watch be- 
low.” 

“ An’ I shouldn’t have had any, so I’m jest that 
much ahead. I couldn’t go to sleep now if I tried, 
an’ it’ll do me a power of good to shovel sand a 
spell, while I’m thinkin’ what a fool I’ve made of 
myself.” 

“ If you work we shall do the same.” 

“ I don’t know of any good reason why you 
shouldn’t. This ’ere gangway must be up before 
noon, ’cause I’m allowin’ you’ll have a crowd over 
here by that time to see how the wreck looks after 
the explosion.” 

“I’ll die if I don’t sleep some to-night,” Joey 
wailed, and Spence cried cheerily : — 

“ Then go into the cabin and finish your nap ; it 
would have been better for us if we hadn’t insisted 
on trying to keep you awake.” 


Repairing Damages. 


211 


Joey disappeared instantly. He had expected a 
severe scolding from each of his companions in turn, 
and was even prepared to receive his discharge ; but 
now he had been let off so easily, it was wisest, ac- 
cording to his ideas, to remain out of sight of his 
employers as long as possible. 

Matt procured the necessary tools at the cottage, 
and in less than half an hour after the mischief had 
been wrought, Dan Fernald and the partners were 
doing their best to repair it. 

When day dawned the boatman’s task was com' 
pleted ; a deep depression on the beach alone re- 
mained to show the force of the dynamite. 

The gangway was not yet replaced, but the work 
was so far advanced that it could readily be finished 
before noon, and Dan said cheerily as he threw 
down the shovel : — 

“I reckon it’s time for me to light out an’ do my 
chores at the hotel. I can’t say when I’ll be back, 
’cause the boss may think after what’s happened 
that I’m not to be trusted; but I’ve got a suspicion 
I shan’t be away many hours.” 

“ When I see father he shall know you are not 
to be blamed for this night’s work,” Spence cried 
as the boatman pushed off from the shore. 

Then the partners continued their labor as car- 
penters until Aunt Hannah summoned them to 
breakfast. 


212 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

Joey had not shown himself since going into 
the cabin to resume his nap, and Matt said as he 
dropped the tools : — 

“ I reckon it’ll be safe to leave him an’ the wreck 
here ; we can keep our eyes on this part of the 
beach by leavin’ the kitchen door open, an’ we both 
need our breakfast about as soon as it can be got.” 

“ Do you believe Dan was right when he said 
Aunt Hannah would make a stir in the village? ” 

“Of course I don’t. She’s frightened by this 
time, now she’s had a chance to think the matter 
over, an’ I wouldn’t be surprised if she kept the 
doors locked every hour of the day an’ night for 
fear the Admiral may take it into his head to blow 
up the cottage.” 

When the boys entered the combined kitchen 
and dining-room, Aunt Hannah greeted them with 
a pleasant “ good morning,” exhibiting no signs of 
nervousness. 

She served breakfast as if there was nothing 
more important on her mind, and never referred to 
the explosion other than to say she had seen them 
at work. 

“ How long will it take you to get the show ready 
agin ? ” she asked, and Spence replied : — 

“ We’ll have things in shape before there’s time 
for customers to come.” 


Repairing Damages . 


213 


“Where’s Joey?” 

“ In the cabin asleep.” 

“ When you go back tell him to come right up 
for breakfast, if he expects to get any. I can’t 
keep the table in the floor all day.” 

Matt gazed in surprise at his aunt ; he had never 
heard her speak in such a tone before, and began 
to be afraid the events of the previous night had 
affected her brain in some way. 

“ I s’pose you’ll want more cake ? ” the old lady 
said interrogatively, after helping the boys to a 
bountiful supply of food. 

“ There’s no hurry ’bout it, Aunt Hannah. I’m 
kinder ’fraid the summer boarders won’t dare to 
come after what’s happened, an’ Spence thinks the 
same.” 

“ Then they’ll be foolish. Howsomever, if you 
should do any business, you’ll find four loaves in 
the pantry.” 

“ I thought you gave me all you had, last night,” 
and Matt’s face was expressive of bewilderment. 

“ So I did ; but after the explosion I couldn’t 
get to sleep again, ’specially since I could see by 
the lanterns that you were workin’, so I passed the 
time cookin’. When you want dinner you’ll find 
plenty in the cupboard, if I ain’t here.” 

“ Where are you goin’, Aunt Hannah? ” Matt 
asked with no slight show of anxiety. 


214 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


44 It may be I shall make some calls, an’ I don’t 
want to feel obleeged to hurry back. I haven’t 
been over to Jim Jordan’s in an age, an’ it’s time I 
went neighborin’.” 

The partners glanced at each other meaningly, 
but remained silent, and Aunt Hannah made no 
further remark. 

44 Dan was right ! ” Spence said emphatically 
when the two were walking down the beach. 44 She 
is up in arms for a fact, an’ I wouldn’t be surprised 
if the village was stirred up in good earnest before 
night.” 

44 But what can she do ? ” 

44 1 don’t know, though I’m as certain as Dan 
was, that there’s going to be considerable excite- 
ment around here.” 

44 Do you s’pose Aunt Hannah can change things, 
if your father an’ Mr. Atwood couldn’t?” 

44 We shall know all about it before night, so in- 
stead of standing here talking, we’d better finish 
the gangway. We ought to have it in good shape 
before noon. Hello ! there’s Joey, and I hope he’s 
had all the sleep he needs. See here ! ” Spence 
cried to the clerk, 44 If you don’t move lively you 
won’t get any breakfast, and after you’ve filled up, 
there’s work enough for all hands.” 

Master Pendleton did not require a second in- 


Repairing Damages. 


215 


vitation, but ran with all possible speed across the 
sands, and half an hour later was busily engaged 
doing his share of the building. 

It was not yet eight o’clock when Aunt Hannah, 
dressed in her best, came to the shore and handed 
Matt the key of the house, saying as she did so : — 

“ If the Spurwinkers have taken to explodin’ 
folks, it ain’t safe to leave the house open a single 
minute. Be sure to lock the door in case you run 
up after the cake, an’ wipe your feet before you 
go in. I saw a power of sand on my best rag car- 
pet this mornin’, an’ it must have been brought in 
by some of you boys.” 

“ Where are you goin’, Aunt Hannah ? ” 

“ Neighborin’, Matthew, jest neighborin’, with a 
little business mixed in. Remember what I’ve said, 
in case I ain’t here ’twixt now an’ noon.” 

Then she w r alked away quickly, as if afraid of 
being questioned, and Spence gazed at his partner 
triumphantly, but did not speak because J oey was 
where he could have overheard the conversation. 

Half an hour later Dan Fernald’s boat appeared 
off shore, and the partners saw a passenger in the 
stern-sheets. 

“ It’s father ! ” Spence cried in delight after 
gazing at the incoming craft several seconds. “ Of 
course Dan has told him what happened last night, 
and he’s coming up to see if we need anything.” 


216 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“ He’s been mighty good to us, Spence, an’ we 
haven’t settled with him yet for the awnin’.” 

“ What of that ? He knows we’re able to pay 
when he gets ready to make out the bill, and I 
believe our show amuses him ; lie’s got nothing 
else to do except look out for us.” 

“ He worked hard all day yesterday when lie 
might have laid ’round takin’ his ease.” 

“ He’d rather be doing something than lying 
still,” Master Richmond replied carelessly; but 
Matt persisted in recognizing the full value of 
the services performed, and giving due heed to the 
generosity which prompted such deeds. 

“ If I had a father like that I’d think I was the 
luckiest boy in all this world,” he said emphat- 
ically ; “ an’ so would you, if you’d never had 
one.” 

“ That’s a fact,” Master Pendleton added. “My 
father wouldn’t have bothered his head ’bout 
what I was doin’, even if I’d owned the whole of 
this wreck.” 

“ That ain’t the right kind of talk, Joey. Your 
father has always given you a good home, with a 
chance to go to school, which is the most he can 
do ; but you don’t seem to count it. It’s fellers 
like me, who don’t have fathers, that know how 
much they help along.” 


217 


Repairing Damages. 

By this time Dan’s dory was aground on the 
beach just astern of the wreck, for the tide was 
low, and Mr. Richmond cried cheerily as he leaped 
ashore : — 

“ So you boys have been getting yourselves in- 
to more trouble, eh ? Has there been much dam- 
age done the show ? ” 

“ She’s as good as ever, sir, except that the 
water will come in at the bow more’n it did be 
fore,” Matt replied. 

“ So long as it doesn’t rise over the deck I can’t 
see that you have any cause to complain. Well ! 
W ell ! W ell ! There was considerable power in 
the explosives your friends used,” he added as he 
surveyed the shattered bow. 44 You have had a 
narrow escape, and I understand that Master Joey 
slept at his post of duty ? ” 

44 1 didn’t shut my eyes more’n a minute, sir.” 

44 And if you hadn’t shut them at all your ene- 
mies might not have found an opportunity to do 
this. Never mind what you are set to do, Joey, it’s 
worth doing well, and should never be neglected. 
In this world we can’t afford to slight the most 
unimportant duties, lest disaster follow. The care- 
lessness of a moment is always attended with dan- 
ger to one’s self, since it tempts one to offend in 
the same way a second time, and in due course of 
events such traits must be paid for dearly.” 


218 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

Master Pendleton did not venture to excuse 
himself, but looked as if he repented heartily hav- 
ing yielded to the desire for slumber when his eyes 
should have remained open. 

Mr. Richmond called upon Dan for an explana- 
tion of the condition of affairs as he had seen them 
immediately after the explosion, and as his ques- 
tions were answered he made copious notes, but 
for what purpose the boys did not understand. 

“ Fernald will remain with you during the next 
twenty-four hours, and perhaps longer, if it should 
seem necessary,” Mr. Richmond finally said. “ I 
do not expect him to assist you in any way, save in 
case of actual danger, and in such an event you will 
follow his instructions implicitly. He is to be 
treated as a guest who represents me, and I venture 
to say all will go well if his advice is acted upon.” 

“You talk as if you were going away,” Spence 
said with just a shade of disappointment percepti- 
ble in his tones, for he had hoped his father would 
at least remain in the vicinity during this day. 

“ So I am, and it is wholly on your account. 
Here comes Mr. Atwood ; he and I are to settle the 
matter of giving bail so that you may resume bus- 
iness on the old basis.” 

The boys had not noticed the approach of the 
landlord until Mr. Richmond spoke, and then Mr. 


Repairing Damages * 


219 


Atwood was in the act of bringing his horse to 
a standstill within a few yards of the wreck. 

As if simply to gratify his curiosity, he examined 
the damage done by the explosion, Mr. Richmond 
pointing out the splintered timbers, and then the 
two gentlemen drove away. 

“ So you’re our guest, and we are to entertain 
you,” Spence said with a laugh as he turned toward 
Dan. “ I was hoping you had come to lend a hand, 
for we’re getting along precious slow.” 

“Your father was only in sport when he said 
that. Of course I’ll take hold, an’ the work is so 
far ahead that it shouldn’t need half an hour to fin- 
ish it. I reckon it won’t be done any too soon, 
either, for some of the women folks are cornin’ up 
after the bathin,’ an’ everything must be in apple- 
pie order when they get here. How’s your Aunt 
Hannah carried sail since the shindy ? ” 

“ She’s dressed up an’ gone out,” Matt replied, 
with a smile, and Dan said as he brought his hand 
down on his knee with a resounding slap : — 

“ What did I tell you ? I allow Hewey an’ his 
crowd will get it heavy before she gets back ! ” 

“ Aunt Hannah won’t say anything to Mr. Hew- 
ey,” Matt replied confidently. 

“ Don’t be so sure of that, my boy. She’s in 
proper trim for most anything, or I’m no judge of 
Spurwinkers.” 


220 Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 

“ What did father say when you told him of the 
explosion ? ” Spence asked curiously. 

“Not very much; he appeared to be taken a 
good deal as Mrs. Gordon was — too mad to speak. 
I’m allowin’ all this scrimmage with Admiral J. is 
goin’ to turn to your advantage, for it makes folks 
want to give you a lift.” 

Having thus given free vent to his predictions, 
Dan set about assisting the amateur carpenters, and 
with such good effect that in less than twenty 
minutes the gangway was as serviceable as ever, 
thus giving the partners ample time in which to 
make ready for the coming of visitors. 

Joey worked as he had never done before. 
What Mr. Richmond had said gave him food for 
thought, and he was careful not to slight any task 
he was called upon to perform, however simple it 
appeared. 

It was he who suggested that “somebody oughter 
go over to Miss Jim Jordan’s for milk,” and, what 
was more to the purpose, he insisted on doing the 
errand unaided. 

“ If you lugged the can over here when it was 
full, I can do as much,” he said decidedly; but 
Matt insisted on dividing the labor, and the two 
started off across the fields, leaving Spence and 
Dan to finish the task of arranging the goods in 
the booth. 


Repairing Damages. 


221 


Before the clerk and his employer were well 
among the scrub oaks, they saw a short, ungainly 
figure through the stunted trees just in advance, 
moving to and fro quickly, as if wishing to remain 
hidden from view, and Matt was so indiscreet as to 
shout : — 

“ There’s no need of skulkin’ like that, Admiral 
J., for we can see you. Why not go down to the 
wreck like ' a man, if you want to find out how 
much your friends did last night?” 

During several seconds no reply was made to 
this speech, and then, as if he had been considering 
the proper course to pursue, the bow-legged enemy 
came into full view. 

“ What do you mean by talkin’ to me like that?” 
he cried, angrily. 44 Do you insinuate I had any- 
thing whatever to do with the mischief last night?” 

44 I’m willin’ to come right out plump an’ plain, 
an’ say it was you, or your crowd, what did it. 
Look here, Admiral J., how long do you allow it’ll 
be safe to carry on this kind of a game? How 
many times do you reckon I’ll let you try to kill 
me before I get out a warrant to have you 
arrested ? ” 

44 Can you swear I had anything to do with the 
attempt which was made last night to destroy the 
wreck?” and the little man advanced until he 
stood within a dozen feet of Matt. 


222 Admiral J. of Spur wink. 

“ Of course I can’t ; you was too sharp to give 
me sich a chance, which is more’n can be said ’bout 
the other night, when you knocked me down.” 

Admiral J. was trembling in every limb, through 
fear, so Matt believed, and it was only after con- 
siderable difficulty he could control his voice suffi- 
ciently to say : — - 

“ What I did when I was very angry I can an- 
swer for ; but you and every person in this village 
shall be made to understand that I don’t counte- 
nance the work of last night.” 

As he ceased speaking the Admiral turned sud- 
denly and ran into the bushes, as if fearing bodily 
injury, leaving the boys gazing after him in speech- 
less astonishment. 

“Well, that beats me!” Joey finally cried. 
“What do you s’pose has come over the sneak? I 
allowed, when he came out so fierce, that he was 
goin’ to pitch right in for a fight.” 

Matt made no reply. 

He did not understand why the Admiral had 
spoken in such a manner, unless he had suddenly 
grown alarmed lest he should be arrested. 

“ He’s scared, there’s no question about that, 
an’ I reckon he knows the jig is about done.” 

“ That may be, but at the same time I wouldn’t 
want to trust him too far. He’s made up his mind 


Repairing Damages. 


228 


we shan’t run the show, an’ by this time to-morrow 
will be ready for more mischief.” 

Then the two continued on to the Jordan farm, 
where they were greeted in the most friendly 
fashion by “ Miss Jim.” 

She was eager to learn what injury had been 
done the wreck, and when her curiosity on this 
point had been satisfied, assured Matt that he had 
her deepest sympathy. 

“ It’s a shame grown men should pick on you be- 
cause you’re makin’ somethin’ through that old 
hulk, when there ain’t one of ’em as would have 
figgered out sich a plan. I’m sure the show is a per- 
fect godsend to me, for I hadn’t sold two quarts of 
milk this month till you begun to take it, an’ what 
you get this mornin’ will make five gallons since 
yesterday. The money must come in to you like 
it was rainin’ gold.” 

“Not quite so easy as that, Miss Jordan,” Matt 
replied, with a laugh ; “ but I shall make enough 
to keep Aunt Hannah an’ me next winter, if Ad- 
miral J. an’ his crowd don’t drive me out of the 
business.” 

Having received and paid for the milk by the 
time this conversation was concluded, Matt be. 
gan the return journey, his mind in a whirl as he 
tried in vain to find a plausible explanation for the 
sudden change in Admiral J. 


CHAPTER XI Y. 


MRS. HANNAH GORDON. 



HEN Matt and Joey returned to the 
wreck they found Spence and Dan 
seated under the awning enjoying 
their leisure, for the work of preparing for visit- 
ors was finished. 

As a matter of course a detailed account of the 
meeting with Admiral J. was given, and Dan 
Fernald said when the story had been concluded : — 
“ I shouldn’t be surprised if the little man was 
gettin’ frightened, an’ he’s got good cause. Every- 
thing Bart Denny, or any other evil disposed 
person, does in the way of mischief ’round this 
’ere wreck, will be laid to the Admiral’s door on 
account of his bein’ the first to start the trouble. 
Folks in this world are judged by what they’ve 
dofte in the past, an’ it stands us in hand to be 
mighty careful how we act toward our neighbors. 
If the Admiral hadn’t let his temper run away 
with him, he wouldn’t be the scape-goat in this 
matter, an’ that’s the part he’ll play in the end.” 


Mrs. Hannah Gordon. 


225 


“ He deserves to be punished ! ” Spence cried 
hotly. 

“ I ’m not sayin’ anything agin that, my boy ; 
but ’ twixt you an’ me, I allow he’ 11 think the 
punishment has begun when this day is ended.” 

“ Do you believe Aunt Hannah will have him 
arrested ? ” 

“ There’s no tellin’ what kind of a bee Mrs. Gor- 
don has got in her bonnet ; but when these ’ere quiet 
people are roused, they’re generally apt to do things 
up brown.” 

Dan might have continued to speculate upon 
Aunt Hannah’s probable course of action indefinite- 
ly, for it was a subject that appeared to interest 
him greatly, but just at that moment a party of la- 
dies appeared on the beach, and the partners made 
ready to wait on their guests. 

“ Business is beginnin’ early to-day,” Matt said 
in a tone of satisfaction as he took up his station 
at the gangway. 

“ An’ I predict it’ll be rushin,’ for the summer 
boarders will all want to see what was done last 
night,” Dan added as he went into the extreme for- 
ward portion of the hulk, where he would not be in 
the way of either the showmen or the visitors. 

These early guests did not go on board immedi- 
ately, but stood at the foot of the gangway as they 


226 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

asked Matt to describe the occurrences of the pre- 
vious night. 

To do this it was necessary Master Turner should 
go down on the beach, and there he remained until 
the afternoon was considerably more than half spent, 
for the summer boarders came in what Joey de- 
scribed as “a reg’lar stream,” each party insisting 
on being given all the details of the explosion. 

Thus it was that Matt had no idea of how much 
business was being done on board, save when Spence 
passed him hurriedly on his way to get the cake, 
and stopped for an instant to receive the key and 
whisper : — 

“ I guess Dan was right when he said we’d have 
a rushing trade. It seems as if everybody was 
starved, and things are selling like hot cakes.” 

At three o’clock the deck of the wreck was 
thronged as it never had been since the “show” 
was opened, and it appeared as if the last of the 
afternoon’s guests had arrived. 

“ It don’t seem as if you could expect any more 
here till evenin’,” Dan said as he clambered over the 
rail, allowing himself to drop on the sands beside 
Matt. “There can’t be many left at the Surf 
House, except Spence’s mother an’ sister, an’ most 
likely they’re waitin’ to hear the news from the 
city.” 


Mrs. Hannah Gordon. 


227 


“Spence must be pretty busy.” 

“ That’s no name for it ; he’s flyin’ ’round like a 
bee in a skillet. I heard him tell one of the women 
that the cake was gone, an’ now the folks are pitch- 
in’ into bananas an’ oranges in great shape. You’ll 
need a fresh supply all ’round by Monday mornin,” 
or else have to shut up shop.” 

“Perhaps I’d better go on board, an’ help him.” 

“ There’s no need of that, ’cause the heft of the 
rush is over, an’ he an’ J oey can pull through. I 
want you to wait till ’Siah Fernald gets here, fori 
allow he’s bringin’ some news,” and Dan pointed up 
the road where could be seen the gentleman re- 
ferred to, coming toward the wreck at a rapid pace. 
“ I s’pose ’Siah’s a sort of a second cousin to me ; 
but I never took much stock in him, ’cause he’s too 
much of a loafer to suit me. I don’t believe I ever 
went into Hewey’s shop more’n once or twice in my 
life but what I found him settin’ there easy as old 
Tilly, never mind how much work he oughter been 
doin’.” 

“ I guess he’s only come down to find out what 
kind of a business we’re doin’,” Matt replied care- 
lessly. 

“ There’s more’n that in his head, or he’d never 
walk so fast. ’Siah don’t believe in exertin’ him- 
self any too much, but now he’s comm’ full tilt? 
which shows there’s somethin’ heavy on his mind,” 


228 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 


Dan’s relative was moving at such a rapid pace 
that he was within hailing distance by the time the 
boatman concluded his remarks. 

He nodded carelessly to Dan, and said in a par- 
ticularly friendly tone to Matt : — 

“ I’m glad to see you doin’ sich a big thing with 
this ’ere wreck, my boy. I reckon she’ll bring in 
quite a tidy lot of money ’twixt now an’ fall.” 

Matt was thoroughly surprised at the friendly in- 
terest in his affairs as displayed by the newcomer. 
Josiah Fernald had never before thought it neces- 
sary to enter into conversation with the boy ; had 
seldom ever greeted him even with a nod when 
they met. 

“ I don’t allow you’ve come all the way down 
from the village jest to say that, ’Siah,” Dan cried, 
with a laugh. 

“ Why not ? Don’t you s’pose I take any inter- 
est in what’s goin’ on ’round this ’ere town ? ” 

“Yes, I’ll admit you do, so far as talkin’ it over 
in Hewey’s store goes ; but I never heard before 
that you was so powerful anxious to see Matt get 
ahead in the world. How much did you put your 
name down for on that paper what’s been goin’ the 
rounds?” 

“What paper do you mean?” and Mr. Fernald 
showed signs of irritation. 


Mrs. Hannah Gordon. 


229 


u The one Hewey started to raise money so’s 
Admiral J. could push his suit agin Mrs. Gordon.” 

“ Not a red cent.” 

“ I heard as how you agreed to give two dollars.” 

“ You can hear a good many things in Spurwink 
that ain’t got much truth in ’em.” 

“ There’s where you’re right, ’Siah, an’ I reckon 
folks lied when they said you’d put it out as your 
opinion that Matt oughter be drove away from this 
’ere wreck?” 

“ I didn’t go as far as that ; but I did allow he 
hadn’t any more of a claim to her than Admiral J., 
or anybody what owns land on the shore, an’ that 
I stick to. I say now he’s entitled to stay because 
he was the first to turn her to account, an’ I’m 
ready to do him a friendly turn whenever I can.” 

“ Thank you, Mr. Fernald,” Matt said with no 
very great show of heartiness, for he was not dis- 
posed to believe the statement implicitly. “ I won’t 
need any help, though, if the Spurwinkers will 
stop tryin’ to kill me.” 

“ Now Matt, what put sich foolish idees as that 
in your head? Nobody’s tryin’ to kill you.” 

“ It looked like it last night, when somebody 
did their best to blow up the wreck, an’ we inside 
of her, same’s it did when Admiral J. knocked me 
senseless an’ set fire to the hulk.” 


230 


Admiral J. of Spunvink. 


44 But yon mustn’t blame all that on the Spur- 
winkers, Matt. I don’t believe any of our folks 
had a hand in last night’s work.” 

44 Look here, ’Siah,” Dan interrupted. 44 Do you 
allow that folks from out of town come here to do 
sich a dirty piece of work ? ” 

44 It was most likely boys’ fun, an’ there wasn’t 
any harm reckoned on.” 

44 So you’d call it only fun if I should touch off 
a lot of dynamite under the place where you might 
be sleepin’?” 

44 1 don’t s’pose them as did it knew there was 
anybody on the hulk.” 

44 Do you reckon they didn’t see the lighted lan- 
tern that hung over the bow within five feet of 
where the mischief was done?” 

44 Look here, Daniel, I didn’t come down here 
to argue with you ’bout what ain’t any of my bread 
an’ butter. I didn’t have a hand in the busi- 
ness — ” 

44 You an’ every man in Spunvink should have 
a hand in it till the guilty one is brought up with 
a round turn.” 

44 Now I can see who’s been settin’ Mrs. Gordon 
up to her notions,” Josiah cried angrily. 

44 What’s she been doin’ ? I haven’t laid eyes on 
her since last night, when she come out to see how 


Mrs. Hannah Gordon. 


231 


many of us was left alive, so I couldn’t have started 
her very strong.” 

“ She’s made a complaint before Squire Kelley, 
an’ what’s more, claims she’ll come on the town for 
damages. There’s a good many in the village who 
believe she’d win the case, ’cause perhaps it can be 
proved that folks have been talkin’ openly ’bout 
what oughter be done to prevent Matt from drivin’ 
trade away from Mr. Hewey’s. The old lady don’t 
stop at the law but she’s travelin’ from one house 
to another tellin’ her story, till she’s stirred up the 
women in great shape.” 

The speaker was interrupted by loud peals of 
laughter from Dan, who appeared to think the 
news very comical. 

“ Any fool can laugh! ” Josiah said angrily, and 
Dan replied quickly : — 

“ Not any one, ’Siah, for this is a time when you 
can’t, seein’s how you’re in a bad scrape. Now I 
know what you come ’round here for, dealin’ out 
soft soap. You’ve been makin’ considerable talk 
in Hewey’s store ’bout drivin’ Matt out of business, 
an’ are afraid Mrs. Gordon will make big trouble 
for you.” 

“ I haven’t said more’n other folks.” 

“ That may be ; but you wanted to get here be- 
fore anybody else could, an’ try to make friends 


232 Admiral J. of Spur wink. 

with Matt, thinkin’ he’d keep his aunt from bother- 
in’ you,” and again Dan gave away to his mirth. 

44 See here, Matt,” and Josiah turned to the boy; 
44 I didn’t come down here to make idjuts grin, but 
to have a fair talk with you. I’m willin’ to ’low 
I’ve spoke ’bout your not havin’ any claim on this 
wreck more’n what other folks have got; but I 
never did anything to hurt you.” 

U I haven’t accused you, Mr. Fernald.” 

44 1 know that, my boy ; but now that your aunt 
has started out so strong, it’s only right you should 
know who your friends are. I hope you’ll tell her 
I’ve stuck right by you through thick an’ thin.” 

44 I’ll repeat what you’ve said, Mr. Fernald.” 

44 An’ make her understand that ’Siah Fernald is 
your friend, even though it may be he has talked 
a little brash now an’ then.” 

Matt made no reply, because he could not prom- 
ise, and, evidently believing the silence signified 
consent, the visitor added : — 

44 1 hope you’ll keep on doin’ a big business, my 
boy, an’ if you ever get into a tight place where 
you need a little help, come to me. Don’t forget 
to talk to your aunt as soon as she comes back.” 

Then Mr. Fernald took his departure, and Dan 
who had restrained his mirth sufficiently to hear 
all that was said, indulged once more in hearty 
laughter. 


Mrs. Hannah Gordon. 


233 


Matt did not think the situation so extremely 
comical. He was disturbed lest Aunt Hannah 
should say or do something that would cause her 
grief after she gave the matter due reflection. 

“ What makes you look so glum ? ” Dan asked 
at length, when it was possible for him to speak. 
“ Can’t you see what a big joke this is ? Here’s Mrs. 
Gordon, one of the most peaceable an’ neighborly 
women in Spurwink, who never says a sharp word no 
matter how bad she’s trod on, starts in an’ frightens 
the whole settlement ! Funny ? Why it’s enough 
to keep a man laughin’ for a week ! I allow ’Siali 
ain’t the only one who Avill discover lie’s your best 
friend ; you’ll have the whole village huggin' you 
in the hope of squarin’ matters with Mrs. Gordon.” 

Dan was interrupted by the arrival of Spence’s 
father and Mr. Atwood, who had driven down to 
the wreck on their way from Portland. 

“No, I won’t get out,” the lawyer said when 
Matt asked if he would go on board. “ We stopped 
to say that everything is arranged, and you can sell 
tickets of admission once more. Do you know what 
has happened in the village since we left ? ” 

“No sir; has anything gone wrong.?” 

“ I should say matters had suddenly begun to go 
right. Mr. Hewey stopped us to say he hoped we 
never believed he would do anything against your 


23 4 Admiral J. of Spunvink. 

making a show of the wreck, and several of Mr. 
Atwood’s acquaintances, who have been bitterly 
opposed to the enterprise, seem now, through some 
unexplained cause, to be convinced of their error. 
I do not understand it.” 

44 1 reckon I can give you a clue, sir,” Dan cried, 
and he told them of the report Josiah Fernald had 
made regarding Aunt Hannah’s doings. 

Both the lawyer and the landlord laughed as 
heartily as the boatman had done, and the former 
said as he drove away : — 

44 1 must come back this evening to congratulate 
Mrs. Gordon on her ability in settling the matter 
so readily.” 

44 I’m afraid Aunt Hannah hasn’t settled it, 
though,” Matt said doubtfully. 44 She’s frightened 
some of ’em ; but what will Bart Denny an’ that 
crowd care if a law-suit is brought against the 
town ? ” 

44 Not very much, I allow; but when they find 
that sich men as Hewey ain’t willin’ to back ’em, 
they’ll carry sail in a different fashion. Let’s go 
on board, an’ tell Spence ; the news is too good to 
keep.” 

It was not possible to hold any extended conver- 
sation with Master Richmond, so deeply occupied 
was he in serving the guests ; but Matt contrived 


Mrs. Hannah Gordon. 


235 


to repeat the good news brought by the former’s 
father, and to hint at what Aunt Hannah was do- 
ing. 

Spence was instantly plunged into a state of the 
greatest excitement. 

“ Look out for the customers a while, and let me 
have a chance to talk about it with Dan. I could 
hear him laughing so heartily that I knew there 
was something comical going on.” 

Matt took his station at the booth, and on look- 
ing over the stock of goods understood that quite 
a large amount of money must have been received 
by his partner. 

“ That’s the last of the bananas,” Joey whispered, 
“ an’ there’s less than half a box of oranges in the 
cabin. The cake was sold an hour ago ; the lemon- 
ade is all used up, an’ there ain’t more’n a pint of 
milk left. You’ll be cleaned out of everything if 
anybody comes to-night, an’ I allow there’] 1 be a 
crowd here, ’cause summer boarders allers go it 
stronger Saturday than any other day.” 

The press of business was over for the afternoon, 
however, and the showmen would soon have an op- 
portunity to prepare for the evening. 

Already were the ladies making ready to return 
to the hotel, and Matt believed the time had come 
when he should announce that in the future an ad- 
mission fee of ten cents would be charged. 


236 Admiral J. of SpurwinJc . 

There could be no question as to the sincerity 
of the congratulations which were showered upon 
him when this fact was made known ; it was as if 
each visitor had a personal interest in the matter, 
and the lady who had bought the first lot of shells, 
when he had displayed his ignorance of the multi- 
plication table, said in a low tone : — , 

“ Now I hope you will earn so much money that 
you can go to school this winter, my little man.” 

“ I’m most certain I will, marm, an' if the folks 
what are cornin’ here could know how much good 
it’ll do Aunt Hannah, they wouldn’t begrudge it a 
bit.” 

“ I am positive there isn’t one who doesn’t re- 
joice because of your good fortune ; but you must 
not look upon our patronage in the light of a char- 
ity. We come because it is a very pleasant place 
in which to spend an idle hour, although it adds 
decidedly to the pleasure to know the money you 
make will be put to a wise use.” 

Matt was at a loss to know just what he should 
say in reply, and finally stammered : — 

“ Thank you, marm ; all you summer boarders 
are mighty good.” 

“I wish I could think the same, ’’was the laugh- 
ing reply, and as the lady moved away from the 
booth others came to congratulate the boy, until 


Mrs. Hannah Gordon. 


237 


lie was literally abashed by their kindly words. 
It was a positive relief to him when the last vis- 
itor descended the gangway, and he said to himself 
as he set about sweeping the decks : ; — 

“Spence must be mighty smart if he can talk to 
so many folks all the afternoon. It’s ’bout as much 
as I can manage to say ‘thank you,’ an’ I know I 
look like a fool while doin’ even that.” 

Spence and Dan interrupted his revery by com- 
ing on board and insisting on doing their share of 
the work, and when everything was in proper con- 
dition once more the boatman said with an air of 
seriousness : — 

“ I’m to be paid by Spence’s father for stayin’ 
here to look out for you boys ; but I don’t think 
it’ll be square for me to hang on to the job any 
longer. After what Mrs. Gordon has done there 
ain’t any need of me, for the Spurwinkers will be 
tumblin’ over each other tryin’ to see who can do 
the biggest favors.” 

“ And you want to go back to the hotel?” Spence 
said inquiringly. 

“ It ain’t that I want to so very bad, but because 
there ain’t any more need of me here, an’ I haven’t 
the heart to take a man’s money for doin’ nothin’. 
I’d better go, an’ if your father ain’t satisfied to have 
me throw up the job, I can come back.” 


238 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

The partners could not well object to this propo- 
sition, for there did not appear to be any good reason 
why Dan should remain to guard them, and he 
made ready to depart, saying as he paused before 
pushing the dory off from the shore : — 

“ Seein’s to-morrow’s Sunday, you’d better carry 
all your truck up to the house, an’ then you won’t 
need to sleep aboard.” 

“ Do you mean that the settees and the awning 
should be taken away ? ” Spence asked. 

“ No ; you can leave them, I reckon. You only 
need to take care of the stuff that could be lugged 
off easy. Be chipper, lads, an’ look out for a rush 
to-night.” 

Then Dan pulled from the shore, the boys watch- 
ing him in silence until he was half a mile away, 
when Spence said emphatically : — 

“ Dan’s a mighty good fellow ! ” 

“ Indeed he is ; but if it wasn’t for your father 
he wouldn’t be here, ’cause he’d have to tend to his 
work.” 

“ All father does is to pay him.” 

“ An’ that’s the biggest part of it, for — ” 

“ Say fellers,” Joey cried from his seat on the 
rail forward, “here comes Bill Hunt. Do you 
s’pose he’ll try to pick a row ? ” 

“ He won’t if he knows what’s best for himself,” 


Mrs. Hannah Gordon. 


239 


Matt replied as he rose to his feet. “ Of course he 
don’t count on anything of that kind, else he’d 
brought a crowd with him.” 

Bill came toward the wreck with a swaggering 
air, as if convinced no one had authority to stop 
him, and without so much as answering Matt’s 
friendly hail, handed him a piece of dirty paper. 

Then he turned stiffly on his heel and walked 
away. 

“What’s this for?” Matt cried. 

“ Open it an’ you’ll see. Can’t you read writ- 
in’ ? ” 

Matt was about to make an angry reply, but 
remembered in time that it was better to rule his 
spirit than to take a city, and unfolded the paper. 

Written on it- with a lead-pencil was the follow- 
ing line : — 

“ Y ou fellers needn’t think Hannah Gordon can 
scare us, & the sooner you shet up shop the better 
it’ll be.” 

“ Do you s’pose that’s some of Bill Hunt’s funny 
business, or was he sent with it?” Matt asked 
sharply, as, after reading it, he looked around ex- 
pecting to see Bill yet within hail. 

Master Hunt had taken good care to gain a safe 
distance before the message could be deciphered, 
and was now lost to view amid the scrub oaks. 


240 Admiral J. of SpurwinJc. 

“ Bill wouldn’t dared do anything like this all 
hisself,” Joey said confidently. “ He’s been ’round 
with Bart Denny a good bit lately, an’ I reckon 
that’s the fellow what sent it.” 

The partners were decidedly alarmed by the 
Warning, and at once understood that if the bully 
who had probably caused the explosion was so 
disposed, he could work them even greater mis- 
chief than was in the power of Admiral J.' 

“ I don’t see why Bart Denny should try so 
hard to jump on me,” Matt said thoughtfully. “ I 
never did anything to hurt him.” 

“ The way I figure it is this,” Spence replied 
after a brief pause : “Admiral J. started the trouble, 
and most likely got Denny to take a hand. Now 
he’s keeping it up just to show what he can do. 
It’s easy to start a fire, as father says, but precious 
hard to stop it.” 

“ I wish Dan had stayed half an hour longer.” 

“ He’ll come back this evening ; but if we’re not 
to keep our goods on the wreck, there’s no need 
of him till Monday night. Bart won’t do any mis- 
chief while the summer boarders are here, so we 
needn’t bother our heads about it yet a while.” 

“ There comes Aunt Hannah ! ” Joey cried, and 
the partners went forward quickly, eager to learn 
what she had been doing. 


CHAPTER XY. 


THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP. 

UNT Hannah looked weary Avhen she en- 



tered the cottage, and literally sank into the 


nearest chair. She was pale, her lips quiv- 


ered, and one would have said she had been 
through some trying ordeal. 

“You’re pretty nigh used up,” Matt said, as, 
sitting on the arm of the chair, he patted Aunt 
Hannah’s withered cheek. “ Spence an’ Joey can 
run the show if any customers come, an’ I’ll get 
the supper. There ain’t any need of your doin’ 
the least little bit of a thing, for I can ’tend to it 


all.” 


“ But there’s no reason why I should sit still and 
let you do the work, Matt dear.” 

“ Yes, there is; you’re tired, an’ there’s nothin’ 
to prevent my stayin’ right here to take care of 


you. 


“ You must stay at the circus, Matt, an’ I shall 
be as well as ever after I’ve had a little rest. I 
have worked hard to-day, that I’m willin’ to admit, 


241 


242 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

though I haven’t done much of anything except 
neighbor with nearly everybody I know in Spur- 
wink.” 

“Yes, we heard of you,” Spence said, with a 
smile, 44 and it looks as if you’d succeeded in do- 
ing what was beyond father and Mr. Atwood, for 
you have given some of the people a pretty good 
scare.” 

“What do you mean?” and Aunt Hannah 
looked positively alarmed. 44 Surely I haven’t said 
anything harsh, or made any threats.” 

44 Didn’t you say you should sue the town for 
damages because of what has been done ?” 

44 Yes ; but that wasn’t a threat, for I expect to 
do it. Of course I don’t know anything about the 
law ; but it ain’t more’n a year ago since I read of 
a widow woman who was pestered as we’ve been. 
She sued the town because the authorities didn’t 
do anything towards protectin’ her, an’ what’s 
more, won the case. I’m going to talk about it to 
Spence’s father jest as soon as I can see him.” 

44 Didn’t you make a complaint to Squire Kelley 
about Admiral J. ? ” Matt asked. 

44 Yes, for I think my bounden duty is to see that 
he isn’t allowed to do any more mischief. He has 
forced me into the law, an’ there’s no reason why 
I shouldn’t keep in it long enough to make him be- 
have himself.” 


The Sand of Friendship. 243 

“ Where else did you go, Aunt Hannah ? ” 

“ I neighbored, as I told you, with most every 
one I know, an’ of course I was called on to tell 
what happened down this way. The women folks 
sympathize with us, thank goodness, an’ will do 
all they can to help keep things straight. I didn’t 
see one but what thought it was a burnin’ shame 
we should be pestered in this way the very first 
time we’ve had a chance to make a few dollars 
without workin’ our fingers to the bone to get it.” 

“Well, you’ve given some of the men a good 
scare,” Spence said, with a laugh, and then he gave 
Aunt Hannah the particulars of Josiah Fernald’s 
visit. 

“ ’ Siah has got an uneasy conscience,” the old 
lady said solemnly. “ I’ve had it plain from a good 
many that he’s been eggin’ Bart Denny on to mis- 
chief, an’ it was him what conjured up the idee of 
startin’ a subscription paper to get money so’s Ad- 
miral J. could sue me. I’ve done ’Siah Fernald 
many a good turn, an’ it don’t look well in him to 
do all he can agin me, more ’specially when he 
doesn’t own an inch of land on this shore, an’, con- 
sequently, wouldn’t be any better off if the Admiral 
won his case. I’ve only done what I thought was 
my duty, Matt, an’ I’m thankful to be able to say 
I haven’t lost my temper oijce.” 


244 Admiral J. of Spur wink . 

Spence left the room very suddenly at this junc- 
ture, and Matt hurried after him, fearing he had 
seen or heard something to betoken that fresh mis- 
chief was being done. 

Master Richmond was found lying on the sand 
a short distance from the cottage, rolling over and 
over as he stifled his laughter lest Aunt Hannah 
should hear him. 

44 What is the matter, Spence ? ” Matt asked 
anxiously, fancying his friend was ill. 

“I couldn’t hold back any longer ! ” Spence cried 
as soon as it was possible to speak. “ The rhost 
comical sight I ever saw was Aunt Hannah talk- 
ing so innocently about , not losing her temper, or 
not making any threats, and that within a few 
moments of haying frightened nearly every man 
in town,” and Spence buried his face in the sand 
that he might laugh without fear of being over- 
heard. 44 The dear old creature don’t seem to think 
she has done anything, except to 4 neighbor’, when 
in reality she has begun one law-suit, is making 
arrangements for another, and been collecting evi- 
dence from the entire village.” 

44 It is funny,” Matt replied as the matter was 
thus presented and he could appreciate all the de- 
tails ; 44 but if Aunt Hannah should see you she’d 
think you was makin’ sport of her. Go down to 


245 


The Hand of Friendship . 

the wreck, where you can laugh as loud as you 
please, an’ I’ll get supper.” 

Then Matt turned back to the cottage, but his 
aunt would not listen to his proposition to do the 
housework. She declared she felt as strong as ever, 
now she was at home, and the most Master Turner 
could gain her permission to do was to act as 
assistant cook. 

While the meal was being prepared Aunt Han- 
nah insisted on hearing as to the business done 
during the afternoon, and when the story was con- 
cluded she said in quite her usual tone : — 

“ It does beat all how you manage to sell things 
on board that old wreck ! I never believed summer 
boarders would throw their money away so reck- 
lessly. I’ll be up bright an’ early Monday morn in’ 
to bake more cake, an’ then will see to it you have 
enough to last a week. Now, Matthew, sit right 
down an’ get your share of the supper, an’ then 
send Spence an’ Joey up for theirs. I’m so tired 
I want to get to bed as soon as the dishes are 
washed, an’ that work can’t be done any too soon 
to please me.” 

Matt did as he was bidden. A few moments 
later his partner and clerk were eating ravenously, 
for neither had had food since morning, and the 
fruit they had taken from the stock simply served 
to accentuate their hunger. 


246 


Admiral J. of SpurwinJc. 


The remainder of the last lot of goods purchased 
by Mr. Atwood, and which had appeared to be of 
such quantity that it would be impossible to dis- 
pose of it, was placed on the booth in what was 
supposed to be a tempting manner, and everything 
was ready for the coming of the patrons. 

The air was warm, the stars so bright that sur- 
rounding objects could be seen almost as plainly 
as in the moonlight, and not a breath of wind was 
stirring. If the guests at the Surf House were 
fond of boat rides, this certainly was the evening 
when they should be out in full force, and as he 
paced to and fro on the deck, waiting for his part- 
ner to return, Matt felt certain the show would be 
patronized on this night as it never had been 
before. 

Just at that moment the young showman was 
in a most confident mood. He did not believe 
Bart Denny, however much he may have threat- 
ened, would dare do anything until late in the 
night, and the fact that the injunction had been so 
far dissolved that they were once more at liberty 
to charge a fee for admission, removed from his 
mind all fear of legal complications, for a time at 
least. Therefore it was that his surprise amounted 
almost to bewilderment when in the dim light he 
saw two figures coming across the beach, and 


The Hand of Friendship. 247 

recognized them as Squire Kelley and Mr. Hewey. 

“ There’s more trouble now, for a fact,” he mut- 
tered. 44 1 thought, from the way ’Siah Fernald 
acted, that Aunt Hannah had scared the Spur- 
winkers pretty bad ; but it seems I was mistaken.” 

The two men advanced directly toward the 
wreck, and on arriving at the foot of the gangway 
Mr. Hewey cried, in a particularly amiable tone : — 

44 Good evening, Matthew. I see you are wait- 
ing for customers, eh ? ” 

44 Yes, sir. I believe there are some cornin’ over 
from the Surf House.” 

44 Done much to-day?” and the merchant ascend- 
ed the gangway. 

44 We had lots of folks over this afternoon.” 

44 Well, now, you are fixed up in proper shape,” 
Mr. Hewey said, as he stepped on the’ rail with the 
evident intention of visiting the show. 

Just for an instant Matt thought that it might 
be unwise to demand an admission fee from these 
representatives of the townspeople, and then came 
the remembrance of what the Spurwinkers had 
done to prevent him from continuing the business. 

44 It’ll cost ten cents apiece if you come on 
board,” he said firmly, as he stepped directly in 
front of the merchant. 

44 What’s that? Ten cents?” and Mr. Hewey 


248 Admiral J. of Spur wink. 

looked down angrily at the boy. “ Don’t you 
know there has been an injunction granted forbid- 
ding you to take money for allowing people to 
come on board ? ” 

“I know something like that was done, sir; but 
Spence’s father has been in town with Mr. Atwood 
for the last two days, an’ when he came out this 
afternoon he told us we could go ahead.” 

“ Eh ? How’s that ? Did you hear, Squire ? ” 
“ Yes, and I believed the city lawyer would take 
such a course ; but have received no official notifi- 
cation of such disposition of the case.” 

“ Then these boys have no right to prevent the 
public from going on board ? ” 

“ I do not say that,” was the Squire’s cautious 
reply ; “ but it is strange I was not notified.” 

“ I allow this city lawyer may have made a mis- 
take, an’ these boys are committin’ a serious offence 
— nothin’ less than contempt of court, eh ? ” 

“ That is what it will amount to if the proper 
formalities have not been complied with,” the Squire 
replied, speaking as if he was repeating something 
which he had committed to memory. 

“ It would be better, Matthew,” Mr. Hewey said 
in a pompous tone as he stepped down on the deck, 
but without paying the admission fee, “if you had 
come to your neighbors for advice, rather than 


The Hand of Friendship. 


249 


dependin’ on a summer boarder, who’ll forget all 
about you the minute he leaves. Now, ’cordin’ to 
my way of thinkin’, an’ the Squire is here to back 
me up, you’re layin’ yourself liable to imprisonment 
by goin’ on with the show before the case has been 
decided. However, that is as may be, an’ we’ll 
speak of another matter which will bring us around 
to this agin in reg’lar order. We, that is the 
Squire, me, an’ the most influential of the citizens, 
want to see you do well ; the idees you’ve got in 
your head are a credit to us all. We don’t want 
hard feelin’s an’ bickerin’s ; there’s been enough 
of that kind of thing. Now we’ve come here to 
offer you our hands in friendship, an’ to say if 
there’s anything we can do to help you along, we’re 
ready an’ willin’ to do it.” 

“ I’m much obliged to you, sir,” Matt replied, 
hesitatingly, feeling quite confident there was more 
in this sudden show of kindness than had yet been 
expressed in words. 

“As I said before, we’re ready to help you along, 
an’ we shan’t be like these summer boarders, here 
to-day an’ gone to-morrow, with never a care as to 
what becomes of you. In other words, we extend 
the hand of friendship,” and Mr. Hewey stretched 
out his not over-clean hand, which Matt grasped 
freely, not knowing what else to do under the 
circumstances. 


250 


Admiral J. of Spunvink. 


“ Now that we are friends once more,” the mer- 
chant continued in a grandiloquent tone, “ or per- 
haps I should say, now that there is no cloud upon 
our friendship, we want to settle a little matter 
with you an’ your aunt, Matthew. Admiral J. has 
been rash in threatening an’ actually bringing suit 
against Mrs. Gordon, while we are opposed to any- 
thing of the kind ; in fact we stand ready to do all 
we can to prevent him from continuin’ that suit, 
an’ in return we ask you to sign this ’ere paper.” 

“What is it?” Matt asked, refusing to take the 
document which Mr. Hewey held toward him. 

“ It’s a statement that you consider us your 
friends, and that you know we wouldn’t do any- 
thing to injure — ” 

The merchant did not continue the little speech, 
which had probably been previously rehearsed, for 
at that instant an egg struck him on the back of 
the head, and this attack was followed by a perfect 
shower of decaying vegetables, balls of sand, and 
eggs, until the decks “ ran yellow,” as Spence after- 
ward expressed it. 

Mr. Hewey turned in a rage, but only to be met 
by more unsavory missiles, while Squire Kelley cow- 
ered behind the rail in fear, and Matt was at a loss 
to understand the meaning of the unexpected at- 
tack, until Spence ran on board, breathless and ex- 
cited. 


The Hand of Friendship. 251 

“ I sneaked ’round on the other side of the hulk, 
and they didn’t see me when I come over the rail. 
Joey ran back to the house, frightened nearly out 
of his wits.” 

44 Who are they ? ” Matt asked. 

‘ 4 Joey recognized Bart Denny and Bill Hunt. 
There are six or seven, and they think, most likely, 
that the summer boarders have come.” 

Then for the first time Spence seemed to be 
aware there were visitors on board, and he asked in 
a wdiisper : — 

44 Who are they ? ” 

44 Mr. Hewey an’ Squire Kelley,” Matt replied in 
a tone sufficiently loud to be heard by the gentle 
men. 44 They’ve come to bring the hand of friend- 
ship, or somethin’ like that.” 

44 They made a big mistake in not telling Bart 
about it, because of course he wouldn’t do anything 
like this if he’d known his friends were on board.” 

44 Do you mean to say that this is being done by 
our orders ? ” Mr. Hewey asked angrily as he failed 
to dodge a second egg, and was struck full in the 
face. 

44 1 don’t believe you wanted them to do anything 
of the kind, for you’re surely getting the worst of 
it; but the fellows who are on the beach were en- 
couraged by you in the first place. Speak to them, 
and I’ll guarantee they’ll stop quickly.” 


252 Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 

If Mr. Hewey had been wise he would have held 
his peace, and sought safety behind the rail as the 
Squire was doing ; but without stopping for re- 
flection he shouted loudly : — 

“ What do you rascals mean by assaultin’ citi- 
zens of the town? I’ll have the law on you be- 
fore another sun rises.” 

“Why, it’s old Hewey ! ’’one of the attacking par- 
ty cried as if in surprise, and an instant later the 
sound of retreating footsteps told that Bart’s friends 
had taken a hurried departure. 

“ I knew they wouldn’t do any mischief to their 
friends,” Spence cried. “ I don’t say you incited 
them to come here this evening ; but you most like- 
ly encouraged them to use the dynamite, and it’s 
fortunate they didn’t bring another supply, other- 
wise }^ou’d be worse off than you are now.” 

Mr. Hewey gasped for breath, so angry was he, 
and, now that the danger seemed to be over, Squire 
Kelley came out from his place of refuge, saying as 
he straightened himself up : — 

“You are a wicked boy to make such insinua- 
tions against those who would aid your friend.” 

“He wants to steer clear of your aid if he counts 
on keeping alive, as can be seen by the bow of this 
wreck where the dynamite was exploded.” 

Neither of the gentlemen made any reply to this 


The Hand of Friendship. 253 

remark, but, satisfying themselves there was no 
longer any danger to be apprehended from another 
attack by Bart and his friends, clambered over on 
the rail and stalked down the gangway. 

“ They’re goin’ up to the cottage for Aunt Han- 
nah to sign a paper sayin’ both of ’em are our 
friends — ” 

“ You boys appear to be excited,” a familiar voice 
cried, and Mr. Richmond appeared on the rail. “ I 
didn’t think Fernald and I were coming in any very 
stealthy fashion, and yet we have contrived to creep 
up on you unawares. What is the meaning of all 
this litter ? ” 

Hurriedly Matt told the story, and the lawyer 
was decidedly amused by the recital. 

“ The gentlemen must begin to realize they have 
been playing with edged tools. They started this 
Bart Denny on his work, and have received a sam- 
ple of his labors. It is rather amusing.” 

“ But now they’re up to the house tryin’ to make 
Aunt Hannah sign a paper sayin’ they’re her best 
friends.” 

“ I don’t fancy they will succeed,” Mr. Richmond 
replied grimly. “ A woman who can do what Mrs. 
Gordon has done this day, is not likely to be forced 
into anything of the kind. However, I will go up 
to the house in case I may be needed to make an 
explanation.” 


254 


Admiral J. of Spurwinlc. 


“ I allow we got here at about the right time, 
eh?” and Dan Fernald leaped over the rail. 

“ It would have been a big pity if you had come 
before Bart Denny’s crowd showed the Squire and 
the storekeeper what they could do,” Spence cried 
gleefully, and then he described the scene to Dan. 

The latter was more amused than Mr. Richmond 
had been ; but he realized that there was no time 
to be lost if the partners expected to be ready for 
their patrons. 

“ I’ve got four boats let to-night, an’ all of ’em 
will come over here before they go back to the 
hotel. . I’d had one of the parties myself if Spence’s 
father hadn’t engaged me to pull him across. Now 
it stands you boys in hand to clean these ’ere decks, 
for they’re in bad shape. Where’s Joey?” 

“ He went up to the house rather than take the 
chances of coming aboard with me while that crowd 
was here.” 

“Joey! Joey! L-o-o-k a-l-i-v-e ! ” Dan shouted 
at the full strength of his lungs, and repeated the 
cry until he received a reply. 

“ I reckon he’ll be here in time to see the last 
of the work done, and now it’s a question of 
washing down the decks.” 

Under the boatman’s directions the boys drew 
water, plied the brooms, and otherwise did their 


The Hand of Friendship. 


255 


best to remove all evidences of the unsavory mis- 
siles, Joey arriving, as Dan had predicted, just as 
the task was finished. 

“ It would have been a mighty bad job if the 
summer boarders had been here, for I don’t allow 
they’d run the risk of gettin’ a second dose. I 
didn’t think Bart Denny would dare to come when 
any one was around.” 

“They counted on breaking up our business,” 
Matt said angrily, “an’ it isn’t certain they won’t 
try the same game after the people get here.” 

“I’ll answer for that part of it. If they so much 
as show their noses on the beach again this night, 
I shan’t be careful about not makin’ a noise.” 

“But see here,” Matt cried gloomily, “we can’t 
keep on the watch for them all the time, and one 
of these days they’ll succeed in gettin’ the best of 
us, unless somethin’ decided is done.” 

“We’ll pull through this evenin’ without an 
accident, I reckon, an’ if I don’t put a flea in Bart’s 
ear ’twixt this an’ Monday night, you may call me 
a Dutchman.” 

Dan spoke in a confident tone; but Matt was 
beginning to grow weary of the struggle. 

It seemed as if one element or series of events 
was no sooner successfully met than another sprang 
up, and he realized that the time must come when 
they would be worsted. 


256 Admiral J. of Spurivink . 

Before he had wholly given way to despair, 
however, a boat-load of visitors arrived, and he 
was soon engaged in the pleasing occupation of 
collecting a dime from each of the guests. 

When the business began Dan did not remain 
on board, but paced to and fro on the beach, and 
seeing him thus acting the sentinel, Matt was pos- 
itive his troubles were over for the time being. 

Half an hour later Mr. Richmond came up the 
gangway, and halted at the rail to say to the col- 
lector of admission fees : — 

“There was no need of my going there to warn 
your aunt, for she is too wary to be caught in 
such a trap as those gentlemen had prepared. How_ 
ever, I am glad I went, for after getting my views 
on the subject I do not think they will trouble her 
again.” 

“What was the paper they wanted me to sign, 
sir?” 

“Virtually an agreement not to proceed against 
them, as your aunt has proposed to do. If both 
you and she had signed it they would have no 
fear of an action at law.” 

“I hope Aunt Hannah won’t sue the Spur- 
winkers.” 

“I do not think she will. My advice to her is 
that the matter be dropped until the suit on which 


The Hand of Friendship . 


257 


the injunction was granted he brought to a close.’ 

“But I thought that was all ended, sir.” 

“On the contrary, it has not yet been heard. I 
have no doubt hut that Admiral Johnson will lose 
the case, yet no one can say what may be the result 
of a trial by jury.” 

“An’ if he should win would you have to pay a 
lot of money?” 

“ That would cause yet another suit to decide 
how much the other claimants had been injured 
financially by your continuing the exhibition. It 
is worse than useless to speculate upon that at 
present. One trouble at a time, my boy, and see 
to it that you take each lightly. The only matter 
to be thought of now is how to make money out 
of the wreck, and I believe you are answering the 
question satisfactorily to all interested, with the 
exception of the citizens of Spurwink.” 

Having said this, Mr. Richmond joined the 
merry-makers on the main deck, and Matt mut- 
tered to himself, as he watched Joey make his way 
awkwardly to and fro among the guests: — 

“If Spence didn’t have his father for a spell he’d 
find out what a mighty nice man he is.” 


CHAPTER XVI. 


A PENITENT. 

f T was eleven o’clock before the guests left the 
wreck and the partners were at liberty to 
made ready for closing the show. 

Dan came aboard when the last boat-load had 
pushed off from the shore, and surveyed the almost 
empty booth with an air of satisfaction. 

“You can’t complain about business, an’ if the 
summer boarders had stayed much longer you’d 
been obleeged to shut up shop on account of not 
havin’ anything to sell. I’ve been thinkin’, boys, 
that we was a leetle rash in agreein’ to carry every- 
thing up to Mrs. Gordon’s, for it’s goin’ to be a big 
job, even though the goods are so nearly sold out. 
If Bart an’ his gang should pay the wreck a visit, 
they could do considerable damage to the awnin’ 
an’ the settees.” 

“ I’m so sleepy it doesn’t seem as if I could keep 
my eyes open, and it would be nearly morning be- 
fore all that stuff was carried up to Aunt Hannah’s,’’ 
Spence said, with a yawn. “Why not sleep on 
board ? ” 


258 


A Penitent. 


259 


44 It’s what I told your father I allowed we’d bet- 
ter do, an’ he went home in the first boat, so that 
part of it is straight enough.” 

44 Do you think there is any danger Bart will 
come again to-night ? ” Matt asked, and Dan re- 
plied, with a laugh : — 

44 1 don’t reckon he feels very much like doin’ a 
great deal of mischief after pepperin’ Mr. Hewey. 
The storekeeper knows who did it, an’ it ain’t 
likely he’ll keep quiet as you boys have done, so I 
allow Bart will lay low for this night at least. I 
have moved ’round hereabouts mighty lively since 
the show opened, an’ am certain there’s nobody 
near.” 

44 Then let’s go below,” Spence said as he led 
the way to the cabin, each member of the party fill- 
ing his arms with goods from the booth. 

There was but little conversation indulged in 
after the weary ones were stowed away in the 
berths. 

Matt suggested that they should have cleaned 
the decks before coming below, and Spence declared 
he did not care how badly they looked, because 
just at that moment sleep was the one thing he 
particularly needed. 

After that remark and answer, the occupants of 
the cabin turned their attention to the journey in- 


260 Admiral J. of SpurwinJc. 

to dreamland, and in a remarkably short space of 
time all had crossed the border. 

It was nearly seven o’clock next morning when 
Dan was aroused by hearing Aunt Hannah’s voice 
from the shore, and he answered it by going on 
deck at once. 

44 I’m glad to raise some of you,” the old lady 
said as the boatman appeared ; 44 I’d begun to be 
afraid something wrong had happened. Breakfast 
has been ready this half hour.” 

44 It seems too bad to rouse the boys yet a while, 
Mrs. Gordon. I believe they’d rather sleep than 
eat, so s’pose we let ’em go without breakfast this 
mornin’ ? It was nigh on to twelve o’clock when 
they turned in.” 

44 You’ll come ? ” 

44 If I shan’t be makin’ trouble for you.” 

44 It never puts me out to have a neighbor drop 
in for a bite to eat, pervidin’ they’re willin’ to take 
sich as I’ve got. Come as soon as you’re ready, an' 
I’ll put the beans on the table now.” 

Dan Fernald thoroughly enjoyed that meal with 
Aunt Hannah. 

By skillful questioning he drew from her a 
detailed account of her labors during the previous 
day, and what occurred in the evening when Mr. 
Hewey and Squire Kelley extended the 44 hand of 
friendship.” 


A Penitent. 


261 


“ I wasn’t sich a fool as to sign the paper they 
brought with ’em, an’ as much as told them so. 
Mr. Hewey hung on, an’ declared he’d always been 
my friend, when it ain’t two months since he re- 
fused to trust me for half a pound of green tea. 
Now that he’s got a taste of what Bart Denny is 
up to, I guess they won’t be hand in glove as they 
* have been since Admiral J. began the trouble.” 

“ I have an idee the boys will run the show from 
this out, with no fear of the Spurwinkers,” Dan 
replied as he rose from the table. “ If you’ll lend 
me a bottle of ink I’ll rig up a sign to keep folks 
off the wreck to-day.” 

He was soon in possession of such materials for 
sign-painting as Aunt Hannah could produce, and 
shortly afterward the following legend was hung 
in a conspicuous position at the foot of the gang- 
way : — 

« NO FoLKs AdMiTTd aBOARd oN SUNDAy.” 

This done Dan lay down on the beach where 
he could keep well in view the approaches to the 
wreck, and alternately watched and slept until 
nearly noon, when the partners made their appear- 
ance on deck. 

“ Have you had breakfast, Dan ? ” Spence 
shouted. 

« Mrs. Gordon an’ me pitched into a pot of beans 


262 Admiral J. of Spanvink. 

this mornin’, an’ it’s gettin' well along towards din- 
ner time.” 

“ Why didn’t you call us ? ” 

44 Thought I’d give you a chance to sleep, see- 
in’s you ain’t had any too much since this show 
was opened.” 

44 Where’s Aunt Hannah ? ” Matt asked. 

44 She toddled off to meetin’ two hours ago, an’ 
I ain’t sure but I’d gone with her if I’d thought it 
safe to leave you fellers alone.” 

44 You surely don’t think there is any danger of 
a row to-day ? ” 

44 There’ll likely to be a lot of Spurwinkers ’round 
after meetin’, an’ so I stuck that ’ere sign up for 
’em to read.” 

44 You’re an artist, Dan,” Spence replied, with a 
hearty laugh. 44 When the business of boat-letting 
is dull, you should turn sign-painter.” 

44 That’s what I’ve thought of doin’, if there 
wasn’t any wrecks ’round for me to fix over into a 
show,” Dan replied without so much as the ghost 
of a smile, as he turned over on the hot sand for 
the evident purpose of taking another nap. 

Joey did not long remain in the cabin alone, 
and when he came out on the beach it was to make 
the proposition that he be allowed to go home a 
few hours. 


A Penitent. 


263 


“ There’s no reason Avhy you shouldn’t stay till 
morning,” Spence replied. “Be here bright and 
early, for there will be plenty of work clearing up, 
and now the boarders have begun to come after 
the bathing, we must be ready for business earlier 
than usual.” 

Master Pendleton was not positive he would 
remain away over night, for while Dan remained 
on board as a protector he preferred a narrow 
berth on the wreck to his own bed. 

Aunt Hannah came home looking unusually 
thoughtful, and insisted on repeating to the part- 
ners and the boatman a synopsis of the sermon she 
had just heard. 

The afternoon passed without incident until 
four o’clock, and then a party of young people 
came from the village to look at the wreck. 

They paused to read the placard, and would 
have disregarded the injunction had they not been 
stopped by Dan, who took upon himself the duty 
of preventing visitors from boarding the hulk. 

The fact that they could not do as they pleased, 
after so great a dispute had been raised by the 
leading men of the village regarding the owner- 
ship of the wreck, caused no little dissatisfaction, 
but Dan was to be neither intimidated nor cajoled. 

“You can see the rule on that paper, an’ it’s to 


264 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 


be kept,” he replied to all those who expostulated, 
and it is quite possible Spence and Matt had more 
enemies on the close of this Sabbath day than when 
it dawned. 

“ I don’t see why we shouldn’t let some of them 
go on board,” Spence said at length. “If we keep 
the cabin doors closed our goods will be safe.” 

“I agreed with your father last night that none 
of us should spend this day aboard, an’ count on 
keepin’ my promise. This ’ere sign is for you as 
well as other people.” 

“I’m not anxious to hang ’round the wreck,” 
Spence replied, with a laugh, and those of the visi- 
tors who heard this remark were less inclined to be 
angry than when it was believed the partners could 
lounge on the decks if they wished. 

When there was not less than half a hundred on 
the beach Spence and Matt went up to the cottage, 
remaining there until the lengthening shadows 
proclaimed that the day of rest was rapidly draw- 
ing to a close. 

Not until the last of the villagers had returned 
home would Dan allow the partners to board the 
wreck, and even then insisted they should remain 
in the cabin, out of sight. 

“I’m supposed to be here in charge, an’ there 
can’t be any kickin’ if I show myself, but you fel- # 
lers must keep under cover.” 


A Penitent . 


265 


It was nine o’clock when Master Pendleton 
returned, and his heavy breathing told that he had 
run at full speed through the pines. 

“It wasn’t cause I was scared of ghosts, or any- 
thing like that,” Joey said, when Dan accused him 
of being afraid to loiter in the grove ; how’d I know 
but Admiral J. might be waitin’ for a chance to 
nab me?” 

“ I don’t reckon the Admiral has any bone to pick 
with you, Joey.” 

“I ain’t so certain ’bout that. If he ain’t sneak- 
in’ ’round here, where is he?” 

“At home, I reckon.” 

“But he ain’t. Two or three of the fellers went 
over there twice to-day, an’ couldn’t find hide nor 
hair of him.” 

“Most likely he’s visitin’ somewhere,” Matt 
suggested. 

“Then he’s gone out of the village to do his 
neighborin’, for nobody in Spur wink knows where 
he is. Mother said he was in Squire Kelley’s office 
two full hours yesterday afternoon, an’ then he went 
straight home without so much as lookin’ at the 
folks.” 

“He’ll turn up to-morrow mornin’, ready for 
mischief, I reckon,” Dan replied carelessly. 
“ There’s no sicli good luck as losin’ him. Hello ! 
What’s that?” 


266 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


A faint cry could be heard from the vicinity of 
the beach, and, listening intently, it was possible 
for the occupants to distinguish the words : — 

“Ahoy on the wreck! Wreck ahoy!” 

“More Spurwinkers who want to come aboard,” 
Dan said petulantly, as he rose to his feet. “ This 
hulk laid here nigh on to a year, an’ after two or 
three days not a soul so much as thought of looking 
at her; but now it seems as if they couldn’t be kept 
away.” 

“Be careful what you do,” Spence saidwarningly. 
“ That cry may be some trap to catch you, so be cer- 
tain who it is before going on to the gangway.” 

“If Bart Denny or any of his gang of loafers 
can get the best of me they’re welcome to do so,” 
and Dan unhooked the lantern from the beam. 

“Ahoy on the wreck!” 

Matt started in surprise as he heard this second 
hail, and said as he followed Dan out of the 
cabin : — 

“It can’t do any harm if we go with you.” 

“There’s nothin’ to stop you from doin’ as you 
like ; but I ain’t needin’ any backers.” 

Spence and Joey joined the leaders, and when 
the little party stood at the head of the gangway 
peering down into the circle of light cast by the 
lantern-rays, low cries of surprise burst from the 
lips of all. 


A Penitent. 


267 


Standing at the foot of the platform confronting 
the warning placard, and looking so meek and pen- 
itent as to be almost pitiful despite the vindictive- 
ness he had displayed, was no less a person than 
Admiral J. 

“ Was it you who hailed us ? ” Dan asked. 

4 4 Yes ; I want to come on board an’ have a talk 
with Matt.” 

44 Got a paper for him to sign, or are you playin’ 
a different kind of a trick ? ” the boatman asked 
sternly. 

44 1 don’t come fawnin’ ’round as some have done, 
neither am I here as an enemy,” was the reply in a 
low tone so unlike any Matt had ever heard the Ad- 
miral use that he was thoroughly surprised. 44 1 
want to ask his pardon for what I’ve done, an’ get 
him to give me a chance of seein’ Hannah Gordon.” 

Dan looked alternately at his companions and 
the penitent little man, as if at a loss to decide 
whether this was some trick for the purpose of 
working further mischief, or downright sorrow be- 
cause of the part he had played. 

44 Surely you can’t be afraid to let me come on 
board? I’m alone, an,’ what’s worse, it seems as 
if every man’s hand was against me.” 

44 Of course we’re not afraid, Admiral. Come 
right up, an’ we’ll do our talkin’ in the cabin, if 


268 


Admiral J. of SpurwinJc. 


you ain’t scared you’ll catch the rheumatism,” Matt 
cried in a friendly tone, wondering even as he spoke 
that he could feel so much pity for one who had 
done everything possible to injure him. 

There was none of the customary swagger when 
the Admiral came slowly up the gangway, and in 
silence followed the hoys and Dan into the cuddy. 

“ If there’s anything you want to say private to 
Matt, the rest of us will go out,” and Dan hung 
the lantern on the beam. 

“ What I have to say is for all, although it’s with 
Matt Turner I want to make a settlement, an’ 
afterwards, if she’ll allow it, I’m goin' to make my 
peace with Hannah Gordon.” 

“What’s come over you, Admiral?” and Dan 
asked the question more for the purpose of putting 
the little man at his ease, than to gain information. 

“I’ve been findin’ out since yesterday noon what 
a fool I’ve made of myself by allowin’ others to 
use me as a tool. I don’t want to shift any blame 
to other shoulders, for I’ll try to square the wrong 
I’ve done Matt and his aunt ; but you oughter know 
what started me on this track. I was ugly clear 
s through, when I knew this wreck was to be turned 
into a show, for I allowed I had as good a right to 
her as the next one. Ugly as I was, I’d have come 
to see that an old hulk like this shouldn’t make bad 


A Penitent. 


269 


blood ’twixt neighbors, if I hadn’t been egged on 
by others. Now Hannah Gordon has been kinder 
to me, an’ done more for me, than all the folks in 
Spur wink put together, an’ that should have been 
in my mind when I first kicked up the row. I’d 
been certain to figger it all out if I hadn’t gone 
down to Hewey’s store, an’ listened to what he said 
’bout holdin’ on to my rights. He an’ Squire Kel- 
ley was at me every minute till I tried to burn the 
hulk, jest out of clear ugliness, an’ after I’d done 
that much, runnin’ the risk of killin’ Matt into the 
bargain, they said they’d see me through in law if 
I’d begin a suit.” 

44 It looks as if that was about what they had 
done,” Dan said, when the Admiral had paused as 
if for a reply. 

44 Yes, till yesterday, when Mrs. Gordon come 
down to the village an’ said she’d sue the town for 
damages. Then Hewey, ’Siah Fernald, an’ even 
Squire Kelley himself, abused me dreadfully. They 
claimed none of ’em had advised me to sue Hannah 
Gordon ; that I’d begged for money to put the case 
through, an’ that they wouldn’t have promised if 
they’d believed it was me what tried to set the 
wreck on fire. Matt, as true as God hears me, I 
didn’t know anything about the plan to blow up 
this hulk, nor could I do more’n guess who did it. ” 


270 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

“ So Hewey an’ his crowd dropped you when 
they found there was a chance of gettin’ their own 
heads into trouble, eh ? ” Dan said, thinking it best 
to keep the little man to his story rather than allow 
him to wander off at random. 

“ Yes, they dropped me, an’ that didn’t satisfy 
’em. Hewey — him as told me over an’ over agin 
that he’d back me in whatever I did, 'cause it was 
for the good of the village generally — Hewey or- 
dered me never to come into his store agin ; said 
he’d kick me out if I so much as showed my nose 
there. Squire Kelley, who was certain I could 
win the suit, says I didn’t tell him the whole truth 
when I started the matter — why he knew as much 
about the wreck as I did — an’ that he won’t go on 
with it unless I raise a hundred dollars — says I 
owe him fifty for what he’s already done, an’ if I 
don’t pay up within a week, he’ll sue, an’ attach my 
house. I’m ruined ! ruined ! ruined ! for last night 
there wasn’t a man in the village who’d so much 
as speak to me ! ” 

The Admiral buried his face in his hands to hide 
the tears which overflowed his eyes, and Matt, pity- 
ing him heartily, would have said something consol- 
ing, but that Dan interrupted him. 

“I ain’t sayin’ but repentance is the right thing 
for a man when lie’s gone wrong ; but it looks to 


A Penitent. 


271 


me as if you didn’t get to see how much you’d hurt 
Mrs. Gordon an’ Matt till everybody in Spurwink 
turned agin you. It’s a ’leventh hour awakenin ’, 
’cordin’ to the way I look at it.” 

“I know it! I know it!” the Admiral wailed, 
14 an’ it’ll serve me right if everybody throws me 
over ; but Hannah Gordon is sich a good woman — ” 

“ That’s jest it,” Dan interrupted. “ She’s so good 
that the minute you begin the yarn you’ve given 
us, she’ll allow everything is all right. Now I ain’t 
so sure as we oughter let you see her.” 

44 Why not ? ” and the other occupants of the cab- 
in, as well as the Admiral, looked up in surprise. 

44 Because it may do a power of good if you don’t 
get forgiveness from them you’ve wronged till you 
’ve had a good chance to think the matter over.” 

44 What else do you s’pose I’ve been doin’ ? ” the 
little man wailed. 44 1 haven’t slept since I was 
at Hewey’s store, an’ if Matt hadn’t jumped at me 
so when I saw him up by Mrs. Jim Jordan’s, I’d 
have told him then how sorry I was.” 

44 Do you reckon you’d want forgiveness so 
powerful bad if there wasn’t a show Squire Kelley 
would sue you ? ” 

44 Don’t, Dan,” Matt whispered. 44 He’s feelin’ 
tough enough without your roughin’ in on him so 
hard” 


272 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


“You’re jest like your aunt, Matt. A man can 
kick you till he gets tired, an’ then you’ll think 
it’s all right if he asks to be forgiven.” 

“ I know Aunt Hannah will be glad to tell the 
Admiral she hasn’t any hard feelin’s agin him, an’ 
it’ll make her mighty glad, besides.” 

“ That’s a fact, an’ it’s exactly why I’m thinkin’ 
he better not get the chance to smooth things over 
so easy.” 

“ Look here, Fernald,” the Admiral cried earn- 
estly, “ I want you to believe that twenty-four 
hours after I first started in on this ugliness I was 
sorry for havin’ said what I did to Hannah Gordon.” 

“ Then why didn’t you stop ? ” 

“ I let other folks persuade me I oughter keep 
on as I’d begun, an’ if it was possible to make 
Hewey tell the truth, he’d have to say I wanted to 
back down after the law-suit was begun.” 

“ That brings somethin’ to my mind, Admiral, 
that I’d lost sight of,” and Dan spoke more sternly 
then before. “You’ve begun a suit agin Mrs. Gor- 
don, an’ she’s got to twist an’ scrape to pay a law- 
yer to defend it — ” 

“ She won’t have to do anything of the kind ! ” 
the little man cried as he sprang to his feet. “ Be- 
fore daylight to-morrow mornin’ I’m goin’ to start 
on foot for Portland, an’ there tell the judge jest 


A Penitent. 


273 


how sorry I am. He’ll dismiss the case without 
costs, I’m certain ; but if he won’t, I shall sell my 
home to pay Hannah Gordon back every cent she’ll 
be obliged to spend.” 

“ Is that the truth, Admiral J.? ” 

“ I’ll swear to it if you like. I shall do that 
whether I get to see her or not, for the sake of 
easin’ my own conscience.” 

Matt was not willing to keep the little man in 
suspense any longer. 

“ I’ll go up to the house with you, Admiral J., 
an’ I’m most certain Aunt Hannah will let you in.” 

“ I guess there ain’t any danger of her refusin’,” 
Dan said grimly as the two went up the companion- 
way, one assisting the other as if there had never 
been other than the most friendly relations be- 
tween them. 

“Well, that beats anything I ever heard!” 
Spence exclaimed when the sound of retreating 
footsteps told that the suitor for Aunt Hannah’s 
forgiveness, and the boy he had wronged, were 
leaving the wreck. “ That little bow-legged fellow 
has stirred up the whole town ; made enemies of 
old neighbors, and caused no end of unpleasant 
feelings, but now he’s ready to say he’s sorry ! ” 

“ That’s about all he can do,” Joey suggested 
sagely. 


274 


Admiral J. of Spurwink . 


“ Yes, because the mischief has been done,” Dan re- 
plied impatiently. “ A man, or a boy either, for that 
matter, who’ll jump ahead, folloAvin’ his own ugly 
temper for a leader without stoppin’ to think where 
he may bring up, is bound to come to grief him- 
self, even if it should happen he didn’t bring plenty 
of trouble on others. If the Admiral had done his 
thinkin’ first, he’d understood what he remembers 
now, that he was doin’ a wrong to his best friend, 
an’ all this bobbery might been saved. But he 
went on pig-headed, an’ before his part is straight- 
ened out, Bart Denny will be keepin’ up the fuss. 
If Mrs. Gordon only’d give him a reg’lar lecture it 
wouldn’t go agin my grain so much ; but instead 
of that, she’ll be tickled almost to death ’cause he’s 
repented, an’ do all she can to make him feel 
good ! ” 

Then Dan scrambled into his bunk, thoroughly 
out of temper at a time when he should have been 
rejoicing because the Admiral had at last realized 
the error of his ways. 

“ I’d like to be up to Aunt Hannah’s when the 
Admiral gets there,” Joey cried gleefully. “It 
would be a pile of fun ! ” 

“ You don’t know what you’re talkin’ ’bout, Joe 
Pendleton,” Dan growled. “ If you think there’s 
anything funny in seein’ a man admit he’s been a 


A Penitent. 


275 


fool, an’ in hearin’ a poor innocent body like Mrs. 
Gordon slobberin’ over the little wretch, you 
oughter be flogged into knowin’ the difference,” 
and Dan pulled the blanket over his head as if to 
intimate that, so far as he was concerned, the con- 
versation had come to an end. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


SAVING A LIFE. 


PENCE believed his partner would be 
absent a long while, for it was reasonable 
to suppose Matt might think it necessary to 
remain until the Admiral’s visit was concluded, 
and now that Dan so positively refused to take 
part in the conversation, the only course left Mas- 
ter Richmond was to make his preparations for the 
night. 

Joey seemed to have been suddenly stricken 
dumb by the unexpected change which had come 
over Admiral J., and instead of chattering on such 
subjects as came uppermost in his mind, as was 
customary with him, he remained without sign of 
life save when he gave vent to a deep sigh. 

“Have you got a pain?” Spence asked after a 
long tiftie of silence, when a particularly lugubrious 
sound was heard from the clerk’s bunk. 

“Course I ain’t. What made you ask that 
question?” 


Saving a Life. 


277 


“You’re sighing like a frog, and have been ever 
since Dan went to bed. What’s the matter?” 

“I was only thinkin’ ’bout the Admiral.” 

“ W ell, what of him ? Aren’t you glad he has 
come to his senses at last?” 

“Yes, I s’pose I am; but I wish he’d waited till 
later in the season.” 

“Why?” Spence asked in surprise. 

“’Cause then I’d be more sure of my job.” 

“Look here, Joey Pendleton, what’s the matter 
with you? How can the reformation of Admiral J. 
affect your working on this wreck?” 

“Well, when I was hired you thought some- 
body’d have to stay on board all the time, so’s to 
see there wasn’t any mischief done, eh?” 

“Yes; but what has that to do with the Ad- 
miral ? ” 

“Well, if he’s reformed you won’t be so ’fraid 
’bout leavin the show to take care of itself once in 
a while, an’ so don’t need a clerk. While the 
Admiral was rampagin’ ’round I could do some 
good ; but if things straighten down smooth I won’t 
be wanted.” 

“But the Admiral’s penitence doesn’t smooth 
matters for us to any very great extent. He hasn’t 
done much mischief since he tried to set the wreck 
on fire. Bart Denny has been the one we’ve had 


278 Admiral J. of Spurwinh . 

to guard against, and it isn’t likely his conscience 
will trouble him for quite a spell yet.” 

44 1 reckon he’ll straighten out when there’s no 
one to egg him on,” Master Pendleton replied 
sorrowfully. 

44 See here, Joey, you needn’t be sighing about 
such a possibility as that, for I promise you shall 
stay with us as long as business is good enough to 
warrant our keeping a clerk.” 

44 Is that honest true?” 

44 If my word isn’t enough, Matt shall add his. 
We’ll need a clerk if we continue to sell goods 
half as well as we’ve been doing for the past three 
days, and so long as you play fair by us you shall 
hold the job.” 

44 Then I reckon I’m kinder glad the Admiral 
has reformed, for it’s been mighty wearin’ to stay 
on watch all the time against that crowd.” 

44 You must have been wore out with watchin’, 
the night of the explosion,” Dan cried from beneath 
the blanket, and Master Pendleton was immediately 
reduced to silence. 

Five minutes later the sound of hurried foot- 
steps on the deck told that Matt was returning, 
and as he literally burst into the cabin Spence 
asked : — 

44 How did Aunt Hannah receive him?” 


Saving a Life. 


279 


“You know she wouldn’t hang back when he 
wanted to make up; she’s too good to do anything 
like that. When we got there she’d gone to bed; 
but her head came out of the window mighty quick 
when I pounded on the door. I told her Admiral 
J. was with me wantin’ to say he was sorry, an’ 
that settled it. Before I thought she’d had half 
time enough to dress she was downstairs rigged 
up in great style — I mean, you know, that she had 
lier best clothes on — ” 

“Treatin’ him like the prodigal calf, I s’pose,” 
Dan suggested gruffly. 

“You mean the prodigal son!” Spence cried, 
with a roar of laughter. “It was the calf that got 
the worst of that meeting.” 

“Admiral J. has so much luck that he’ll never 
get the worst of anything in this world. I reckon 
Mrs. Gordon asked him right in, as chummy as 
if he’d never said a word agin her in his life?” 

“ Oh yes, she did that before he could speak, an’ 
what’s more, took him into the fore-room. The 
Admiral didn’t offer to set down, though Aunt 
Hannah pulled out the chair that’s got the best 
tidy on it. He jest began to cry, an’ that broke 
her all up. She wiped her eyes hard, an’ I couldn’t 
help snuffin’ a little myself.” 

“Real touchin’ time,” Dan suggested, sarcasti- 
cally. 


280 Admiral J. of Spur wink. 

“It did make a feller feel solemn, for a fact. 
After the Admiral got through so’s he could speak, 
he told Aunt Hannah how sorry he was, an’ did it 
in great style. I was ’fraid he’d try to throw 
pretty much all the blame on Squire Kelley an’ 
Mr. Hewey, but he didn’t; he owned right up like 
a man, an’ said as how she was the only real friend 
he had in Spurwink. When he talked ’bout sellin’ 
his place so’s to give back the money she’d have 
to pay on account of the law-suit she was broke 
all up again — wouldn’t listen to a word — asked 
him if he’d been to supper, an’ told me to build a 
fire an’ put the beans on to warm.” 

“So she fed him after he’d tried to turn her out 
of house an’ home?” and Dan sat bolt upright as 
he asked the question. 

“I s’pose she has by this time; but they hadn’t 
got so far as that when I come away. After I’d 
built the fire an’ fixed things same as she’d said, 
I went back to the fore-room ; but when I pushed 
the door open a crack I heard Aunt Hannah pray- 
in’, so thought I’d best leave.” 

Dan lay down again, turning his face away from 
his companions as if desirous of keeping it hidden 
from view. 

“ Is he cornin’ back here ? ” Joey asked as a sud- 
den thought came to him. 


Saving a Life. 


281 


“ He didn’t say, an’ I don’t s’pose it makes any 
difference to us whether he comes or not.” 

“It does to me,” Joey replied emphatically. 
“ There’s jest blankets enough to go ’round, an’ 
the Admiral can’t have mine, no matter how sorry 
he is for what’s been done.” 

“ I guess he won’t expect to stay with us all 
night,” Matt replied as he made ready to retire. 
“ There’s nothin’ to keep him from goin’ home.” 

“ If he’s countin’ on walkin’ into Portland, he’ll 
save a good mile an’ a half by stoppin’ here.” 

“ It’s a fact ; I never thought of that. 

“ But the Admiral has, you may he certain,” 
Dan whispered. “ I hear him cornin’ now.” 

J oey immediately rolled himself yet more tightly 
in his blanket, as if to prove there wasn’t an inch 
to spare, and Matt, understanding the reason for 
such movement, said quietly: — 

“ I’ll see to it you fellers ain’t any the worse off 
for his stoppin’ here, ’cause I’d jest as soon lay on 
the floor as not.” 

“ You’re as big a fool, Matt Turner, about some 
things, as your aunt is ! ” Dan cried angrily. “ If 
there’s any sleepin’ on the floor to be done, let 
the Admiral try it. Folks has been so soft with 
him this evenin’ that it’ll do him good to strike 
somethin’ hard.” 


282 Admiral J. of Spurwinlc . 

“ Are you cross because he’s grown sorry for 
what he’s done, Dan ? ” Matt asked in surprise. 

“ Of course not ; it stood to reason that he’d see, 
sooner or later, what a hog he was rnakin’ of him- 
self, an’ haul ’round on the other tack if there was 
any sense left in his thick head. I’m a good bit 
riled, though, ’cause you folks are makin’ it so 
smooth for him. Mrs. Gordon will coddle him up 
within an inch of his life from now out, an’ even 
you are willin’ to give him your bed.” 

“ I wonder what he’s doing ? ” Spence inter- 
rupted. “ If it was him Dan heard a minute ago, 
he should have been down here before this, unless 
he counts on sleeping on deck.” 

“I’ll go an’ see,” Matt said as he ascended the 
companion-way with all speed lest Dan should get 
ahead of him, for he feared the boatman might 
make unpleasant remarks to the penitent Admiral. 

As he gained the open air he was startled by 
seeing a dark figure dart across the deck and dis- 
appear over the rail, while at the same instant a 
second shadowy form came toward him from the 
aftermost part of the hulk. 

u What’s goin’ on here? ” he cried sharply, and 
the words had but just been uttered when a heavy 
thud in the cabin told that Dan had leaped to 
his feet. 


Saving a Life . 


283 


Matt had already turned to face the possible 
danger from the stern, and at the same time moved 
quickly to one side, crouching low that he might 
the better see who was on the deck. 

In this position objects within his range of vision 
were outlined against the star-lit sky, and with 
the quickness of thought he realized that some 
person was rapidly coming toward him. 

He raised his arms to ward off a threatened 
blow, and as he did so Dan’s head could be seen 
above the companion-way. 

With a cry of anger the boatman leaped forward ; 
Matt saw the intruder turn as if to flee ; heard a 
scuffling noise such as might have been caused by 
a boot-heel slipping on the deck, and a moment 
later the figure disappeared over the rail aft. 

A scream of mingled pain and terror, a resound- 
ing splash of water, and during a moment all 
was still, save for the excited voices in the cabin. 

“ What was it ? ” Matt cried, running to the rail 
and peering over. 

“ Bart Denny,” Dan replied angrily. “ It was 
lucky his foot slipped, or he’d have got a clip 
from me that he wouldn’t forget in a hurry.” 

“ But he has gone overboard !•” 

“ So much the better; he’ll have a chance to cool 
off before tryin’ to play his comical games on us 
again.” 


284 Admiral J. of Spur wink. 

Matt could distinguish nothing in the water. 

The tide was at its full height, and near the 
stern of the wreck it could not have been less than 
ten feet deep. 

44 He must have hurt himself when he fell, an’ 
now he’s drownin’!” the boy cried in terror, glanc- 
ing quickly toward the white sands, but failing to 
see any one. 44 He’d be out by this time if he was 
all right ! ” 

Dan looked fore and- aft ; then walked leisurely 
to the starboard rail, thinking, perhaps, the would- 
be mischief maker had scrambled out on that side, 
and before his survey was completed Matt became 
convinced that the man who would have done them 
an injury was lying helpless beneath the waves. 

Before one could have counted ten he had 
thrown off a portion of his clothing, clambered 
upon the rail, and was on the point of leaping 
over when Dan cried sternly: — 

44 Keep back, Matt! You shan’t take such 
chances here in the under-tow ! ” 

Even while he was speaking Matt jumped far 
out from the side of the hulk, and disappeared be- 
neath the surface just as Spence came on deck in 
alarm. 

44 Pull down that booth, an’ throw the boards 
over!” the boatman cried sharply as he began to 

















Saving a Life . 


285 


undress. “ Be careful not to hit him, an’ when 
that’s done, unreeve one of these awnin’ ropes. 
There ain’t a worse bit of water on the coast, an’ 
the chances are against him!” 

He was on the rail before the words were fully 
spoken, and made ready to leap over as soon as it 
should be possible to ascertain exactly where Matt 
would come to the surface. 

Spence was sufficiently cool-headed to obey the 
commands without waiting to learn what had 
occurred, and the boatman was yet awaiting his 
opportunity, when the boy ran aft with one of the 
timbers. 

“Don’t drop it till you’re certain not to hit 
him ! ” 

“ Stay on deck, Dan ! ” Spence cried imploringly. 
“ I won’t be able to help very much if both of you 
go over, an’ you can do more good here ! ” 

Matt’s head appeared above the surface, and the 
boatman began to understand there might be wis- 
dom in Spence’s suggestion. 

“ I’ve got him ! ” the swimmer cried, as he 
dashed the water from his face with one hand. 
“ He’s no better than a dead man ; but if you can 
pass me a rope — ” 

The sentence was not finished, for at that mo- 
ment the boy disappeared from sight, dragged 


286 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

down by the inert body he had tried to raise to 
the surface. 

Dan sprang to the fastenings of the awning, and 
when he had unloosened one of the ropes, Matt’s 
head could be seen; but this time he was much 
further out to sea. 

u The under-tow has got him ! ” Dan groaned, 
coiling up the rope, and flinging it toward the 
swimmer. 

It was not long enough by several feet, and the 
boatman was on the point of darting back to get 
more, when Spence came up with a second length. 

It could now be seen that Matt had raised the 
insensible man until his head was above the sur- 
face, and both were drifting seaward with great 
rapidity. 

“ Let him go, an’ take care of yourself ! ” Dan 
shouted in an agony of terror, as he hastily tied 
the ropes together. 

“ I can hold on quite a spell longer ; throw out 
somethin’ that’ll float ! ” 

“ He’ll go under tryin’ to save what ain’t worth 
one of his fingers ! ” Dan cried bitterly, and then 
as he coiled up the rope, “ Look out for it, lad ! ” 

Breathlessly Spence Avatched the snake-like 
thread of black as it was unwreathed out over the 
inky waves, and the blood bounded through his 
veins as he heard the cheery cry 


Saving a Life. 


287 


“ All right ! I’ve got it ! Stand by to haul in ! 

“ Thank God ! Dan shouted, bracing himself 
against the rail that he might be ready instantly 
the word was given. 

“ Haul in!” 

Spence seized the rope, standing in the rear of 
the boatman, and the two pulled in the line, hand 
over hand, knowing full well that a human life 
depended upon the rapidity with which they 
worked. 

Coil after coil was taken inboard, and the dark 
mass attached to the end was close under the 
wreck, when Joey, who had been standing where 
he could look over the stern, but without appear- 
ing to think it possible for him to render any 
assistance cried : — 

“ Matt ain’t there I I can see his head a good 
bit outside ! He’s hitched Bart on, an’ is swim- 
min’ for it ! ” 

A smothered exclamation of anger burst from 
Dan’s lips, and for a single instant he relaxed his 
efforts, but only to renew them immediately — a 
human life was at stake, even though it was that 
of an enemy. 

Two minutes later, the apparently lifeless body 
of Bart was lying on the deck, and Dan shouted 
wildly : — 


288 


Admiral J. of Spurwink . 


“ Where are you, Matt ? ” 

“ Close by,” came the reply in a faint tone. 
“Can you pass out the rope agin ?” 

Once more the coils widened over the waters ; 
again the aim was true, and Spence gave vent to a 
deep sigh of relief as Matt cried : — 

“All right! Haul in!,” 

“Run up to the house, Joe, an’ tell Mrs. Gordon 
what has happened,” Dan cried, as he bent all his 
energies to coiling in the rope once more, and 
Master Pendleton was, fortunately, master of him- 
self sufficiently to be able to obey the command 
without loss of time. 

When finally pulled over the rail, Matt was so 
far exhausted that it was impossible for him to 
speak, and as Dan would have raised him to his 
feet, he sank down by the side of Bart, well-nigh 
insensible. 

Joey had not yet gained the gangway when 
Admiral J. came on board. 

“ What’s goin’ wrong here ? ” he asked, in his 
old, imperious tone. 

“ Don’t stop to chatter, Joe ! ” Dan cried 
sharply. “ Get Mrs. Gordon down here as quick 
as you know how ! ” 

But the Admiral’s knowledge of the methods 
to be employed in such cases was not to be de- 


Saving a Life . 


289 


spised, and, after a single glance at the lifeless 
ones, understanding as well what had happened as 
if the whole matter had been explained in detail, 
the little man set about calling back the spirits 
which seemed on the point of taking their de- 
parture forever from this world. 

Under his direction the proper treatment was at 
once applied, and by the time Aunt Hannah ar- 
rived, Matt had fully recovered consciousness. 

“ Is Bart all right ? ” he asked eagerly, as he 
opened his eyes and saw his aunt bending over 
him. 

“ He soon will be I hope, Matt, dear,” the old 
lady replied, as she kissed him tenderly. “ It was 
a brave thing to do, an’ I am prouder of you than 
I ever was before.’ 

“ I didn’t do very much. Dan an’ Spence pulled 
us out, an’ if it hadn’t been for them we’d been 
carried down by the under-tow. They did all the 
work.” 

Dan turned quickly as if to speak, but checked 
himself suddenly, and continued his work upon 
Bart as directed by Admiral J. 

“ How did it happen?” Aunt Hannah asked, as 
she held a brimming bowl of composition tea to 
Matt’s lips, forcing him to swallow the entire 
contents. 


290 


Admiral J. of Spurwinh. 


“I don’t know,” the boy replied, when it was pos- 
sible for him to speak. “ I saw somebody on board, 
an’ the next I knew he was in the water. I reckon 
he hit his head as he went over.” 

“Here is a bruise,” Dan said, ceasing his labors 
to point at a discoloration on Bart’s temple. 
“ He slipped jest as I was aimin’ a blow at him, 
an’ went over like a stone. If it hadn’t been for 
Matt he’d drownded before I’d got it through my 
head that he was on the bottom ; I had the idee 
he was skulkin’ up shore under the bend of the 
hull, where we couldn’t see him.” 

“Will he come ’round all right?” Matt asked 
again. 

“ There is no question about it now,” and Ad- 
miral J. motioned for Dan to cease his labors. 
“ Unless I’m very much mistaken he is already 
conscious, for he opened his eyes a moment ago.” 

If the little man was correct in his surmise the 
patient did not acknowledge the fact, but remained 
passive, and after a time Admiral J. said, in a pos- 
itive tone : — 

“ There is no longer any question, Bart, but that 
you have recovered ; your pulse is as steady as 
ever. It would be the more manly part to thank 
the boy who has saved you, instead of shamming 
like this. If he hadn’t risked his life in the at- 


291 


Saving a Life. 

tempt, you would now be lying at the bottom of 
the sea.” 

Bart gave no sign of consciousness, and the 
Admiral turned away impatiently. 

“Let him go his own gait,” Dan said gruffly. 
“ There’s been so many queer things happening this 
night that one or two more don’t cut any great 
figger. I allow Matt better be taken home, an’ I’ll 
lug—” 

“ I am as well as ever, an’ can stay here.” 

“ Please come with me, Matt dear ; your poor 
old aunt wouldn’t sleep a wink this night if she 
left you here.” 

“ Then I’ll come, Aunt Hannah. You toddle 
on up to the house — the Admiral will give you a 
lift over the rail, an’ I’ll come in a minute.” 

Mrs. Gordon went out of the cabin satisfied that 
Matt would keep his promise without loss of time, 
and the boy who had proven himself a hero was 
soon ready to follow. 

To his great surprise he experienced no slight 
difficulty in attempting to walk, and it became 
necessary for Dan to assist him. 

“ I am as weak as a rat,” he said in surprise. 
“ I don’t understand why I should feel this way.” 

“It does seem queer,” the boatman replied 
grimly. “ When a fellow goes down into Davy 


292 


Admiral J. of Spurwink. 


Jones’s locker as far as you’ve been, an’ had a 
lively tussle for life, it’s odd he ain’t the same as 
before the trouble began ! ” 

“Now you’re makin’ sport of me.” 

“ W ell, perhaps I was, lad ; but you had no call 
to be surprised because you wasn't feelin’ chipper, 
when it’s the biggest kind of a wonder that you 
can even hold up your head. Now be half-way 
decent, an’ let me lug you over the rail.” 

Matt made no protest when the boatman lifted 
him in his arms, and, ten minutes later, when he 
was tucked snugly between the lavender-scented 
sheets in Aunt Hannah’s “best room,” for she 
would insist on having him carried there, a sooth- 
ing sense of restfulness came over him. 

“ I’m all right now,” he said in a tone of content, 
“ though it does seem too bad for me to muss up 
your best sheets, Aunt Hannah.” 

“ There’s nothin’ too good for you, Matt. You’re 
the dearest an’ bravest boy that ever lived, an’ 
God has been better to me than I deserve, in allow- 
in’ you to live.” 

Then the old lady knelt down by the side of the 
bed, to give thanks for the mercy vouchsafed her, 
and Dan, Spence and Joey, who had followed their 
friend and companion, could do no less than listen 
to the words of thanksgiving and praise which fell 


Saving a Life. 293 

in full measure from Aunt Hannah’s quivering 
lips. 

“ It mixes me all up to hear a good woman like 
Mrs. Gordon prayin’ as if she was the biggest kind 
of a sinner,” Dan said to Spence, when he and the 
boys were returning to the wreck. “ If there’s 
sicli a thing as salt of the earth, I reckon Matt’s 
aunt is made of it. Where did the Admiral go so 
quick?” 

“I .haven't seen him since we went into the 
house ; most likely he thought it best to go home, 
and I’m satisfied he should be there.” 

“ I wish he’d taken Bart with him ; I don’t like 
the idee of sleepin’ in the same cuddy with that 
beauty,” and Dan lowered his voice as he clam- 
bered over the rail. 

Spence was about to reply, when Joey, who, 
being in advance, had gained the cabin, cried : — 

“ Bart ain’t here ! He’s skipped out slick as a 
whistl'e, an’ it’ll be a long day before he comes 
’round this way agin, I’m thinkin’.” 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


THE SURPRISE. 

TTc>irUCH to Spence’s surprise Dan was not in 
a talkative mood when they were once 
.XX A more alone in the cabin. 

After the stirring events of the night 
it seemed as if there were many matters which 
should be discussed ; but the boatman positively 
refused to do more than answer curtly such ques- 
tions as were asked by his companions. 

Finally Master Richmond abandoned the attempt 
to interest Dan, and all hands again turned their 
attention to thoughts of slumber. 

It is not possible to say when the last member of 
the party went over into dreamland ; but it is cer- 
tain all were sleeping soundly at the moment Ad- 
miral J. came on board. 

The sun had not yet risen, although the day was 
dawning, and the little man appeared dressed for a 
journey. 

“I’m sorry to disturb you,” he said in an apolo- 
getic tone, as he came half-way down the cabin 
stairs, and it was necessary to repeat the words at 
294 


The Surprise. 


295 


least four times before he really did disturb any- 
one, so soundly were all sleeping. 

“ Eh ? What’s that you say ? ” and Dan sprang to 
his feet as if in alarm. On understanding who the 
visitor was, he added sleepily, “ So it’s you, Admiral ? 
We’ve had so much to startle us since yesterday 
mornin’ that I was afraid something else had gone 
wrong.” 

“ I hope matters are more nearly right than they 
were twenty-four hours ago — those in which I am 
concerned certainly are. As I said before, I’m sorry 
to disturb you, but it seems really necessary, be- 
cause I’m on my way to Portland, an’ may not be 
back until to-morrow.” 

“ We shall try to get along without you,” Dan re- 
plied grimly. 

“I am sorry, Fernald, that you can’t find it in 
your heart to forgive me for havin’ been sich a vil- 
lain ; but you may succeed after a while, when I’ve 
done all I can to repair the wrong.” 

“Was that what you wakened me for ? ” 

“No; but I couldn’t help sayin’ it. When I left 
Mrs. Gordon’s house last night I met Bart Denny 
on his way to the village — he was runnin’ off be- 
fore you could get back.” 

“ Perhaps it was jest as well for him he didn’t 
wait.” 

The Admiral hesitated an instant as Dan spoke 
thus harshly, and then continued meekly : — 


296 Admiral J. of SpumvinJc. 

“ I know if it hadn’t been for what I’ve done, 
Bart would never have taken it into his head to do 
the boys an injury, therefore I’m really the one 
who is responsible for his actions. I knew, or 
thought I did, that he might find bad advisers in 
the village, an’ persuaded him to go to my house. 
He has promised to stay till I get back, an’ I hope, 
Fernald, you won’t disturb him there.” 

“ I don’t count on chasin’ him ’round ; but he 
mustn’t show his head near here.” 

“ I know he won’t. I wanted you to understand 
how it was, in case anybody reported that he was 
there. Bart, like me, wants to turn over a new 
leaf, an’ I hope he’ll have the chance.” 

“ If you straighten him up, Admiral, I’ll give in 
that you’ve come pretty nigh squarin’ matters,” Dan 
replied with more friendliness in his tones than he 
had displayed before. 

“ Thank you,” the little man said meekly, and 
he went down the gangway, walking at a rapid 
pace along the shore in the direction of the city. 

The boatman, now thoroughly awake, went on 
deck, and was watching Admiral J. as his figure 
grew fainter and fainter in the distance, when 
Spence joined him. 

“ Didn’t I hear you talking with someone ? ” Mas- 
ter Richmond asked. 

“ Yes ; it was the bow-legged Admiral, an’ there 


The Surprise. 


297 


he goes,” Dan replied, as he pointed to the tiny 
form on the sands. “ He’s started in to reform the 
Spurwinkers, an' maybe he’ll succeed, though I 
have my doubts,” and the boatman repeated the 
conversation he had had with the penitent. 

“ How odd it is matters have turned out this 
way,” Spence said musingly. “ It begins to look as 
if we wouldn’t have much more trouble in running 
the show.” 

“That’s exactly what I was allowin’ when you 
came out. So long as neither the Admiral nor Bart 
is likely to do mischief, I don’t see why I shouldn’t 
go back to the hotel. The boss will be wantin’ me 
to drive into town for a supply of provisions, an’ 
you need to send for goods, if the show is to be 
open for business this noon.” 

“ I don’t see any reason — there comes Mr. At- 
wood ! Perhaps he is after you,” and Spence pointed 
to a team which had just appeared above the sand- 
dunes. 

Dan was on the beach by the time his employer 
reined in the horse, and before the latter could 
speak the boatman had given him a brief account of 
all that had occurred during the past twenty-four 
hours. 

Mr. Atwood listened to the story in silence, and 
when it was concluded said, as if he was not very 
greatly surprised by the information : — 


298 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

“ Then there is no reason why you should not go 
into town ; here is a list of what we want, and on it 
you’ll find a memorandum of the goods to be pur- 
chased for the showmen. Spence, I fancy you can 
afford to go back to the hotel with me ; your father 
will want to learn all the particulars of last night’s 
work, and you won’t be any the worse for clean 
clothing.” 

Master Richmond was quite willing to act upon 
this suggestion, and, forgetting that it might be 
necessary to notify his clerk, who was yet asleep in 
the cabin, went down the beach with the landlord. 

Joey slept soundly an hour longer, and, opening 
his eyes lazily, was alarmed at finding himself 
alone. 

Leaping out of the bunk more quickly than he 
had ever done before, the clerk went on deck with 
the utmost speed, but only to find it deserted. 

He did not attempt to reason as to why his 
employer and Dan had disappeared, but ran wildly 
down the gangway, and thence to Aunt Hannah’s 
home, screaming loudly in alarm. 

“Mercy on us ! What is the matter now?” the 
old lady asked tremulously, as she appeared at the 
door. 

“ Spence an’ Dan ! They’re gone ! Somebody’s 
got away with ’em ! ” 

“ Somebody’s got ’em ? ” Aunt Hannah repeated 


299 


The Surprise. 

in amazement. 44 Stop your screeching, Joey Pen- 
dleton, an’ tell me what you mean by makin’ sich 
an outcry.” 

The old lady grasped the clerk’s arm firmly, as 
if fearing he would attempt to escape, and tried in 
vain to get from him a coherent story. 

It was not until Matt, awakened by the noise, 
came hurriedly down stairs to learn the cause of 
the disturbance, that Joey could be induced to ex- 
plain what had occurred. 

44 And you are makin’ all this noise jest because 
Daniel and Spence were not by your side when 
you wakened ? ” Aunt Hannah asked sternly, after 
Master Pendleton’s story had been told. 

44 There’s been so many funny things done ’round 
here, this last week, that it’s enough to scare any- 
body when fellers ain’t where they oughter be.” 

44 1 don’t believe they’ve been lugged off,” Matt 
said, with a laugh. 44 It isn’t very early in the 
mornin’, an’ most likely they’ve gone down to the 
Surf House. I’m ashamed of myself for stayin’ in 
bed so late.” 

44 It would have done you solid good if you’d 
stayed till noon,” Aunt Hannah said, as she patted 
the boy affectionately on the shoulder. 

44 You’re not goin’ to say I must be coddled jest 
’cause I went overboard last night ? I’ve got to do 
a good deal of work between now an’ noon. ” 


Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


44 I’m not thinkin’ of sayin’ a word against it, 
Matt, dear, though I’d be better pleased if you 
stayed in the house till I knew there wasn’t any 
danger of gettin’ cold. Breakfast has been ready 
half an hour, an’ there’s no reason why you should 
wait for your partner an’ Dan.’ r 

Matt’s appetite had not suffered because of his 
exertions on the previous evening, and he and Joey 
had concluded a particularly hearty meal when 
Spence entered. 

He explained why he was not on the wreck 
when Master Pendleton awakened ; made merry 
over the clerk’s fears as described by Aunt Han- 
nah, and then said, in a business-like tone : — 

44 We can’t afford to fool away much time here, 
’cause trade will just hum to-day. What you did 
for Bart last night has set the folks almost wild, 
and they’re going to give you the surprise of your 
life between now and night.” 

As a matter of course, Matt’s curiosity was 
aroused by the concluding portion of his partner’s 
remarks, but Spence refused to make any ex- 
planation. 

44 Father said you was to be ready to go aboard 
the wreck some time this afternoon, Aunt Han- 
nah, and you mustn’t make any objection, for I’ve 
already promised in your name.” 


The Surprise. 


801 


“ Sakes alive ! I can’t go where all the summer 
boarders are agin, Spence. That one visit will last 
me for this season.” 

“ But you really mustn’t disappoint us. Father 
and mother will come for you some time after din- 
ner, and I’m counting on your being ready.” 

Then Spence hurried his partner down to the 
wreck, and during the remainder of the forenoon 
all the boys worked industriously, making ready 
for the arrival of their patrons. 

Spence was unusually particular regarding the 
appearance of the “ show,” and insisted on scrub- 
bing this place or brushing that, until Joey de- 
clared he “ was all wore up doin’ so much useless 
work.” 

Dan Fernald drove down to the wreck at about 
eleven o’clock, and delivered a large supply of 
goods, declaring he had purchased only such arti- 
cles as were specified on the memoranda given him 
by Mr. Atwood. 

“ It’s all right,” he said confidently. “ You’ll 
sell twice as much ’twixt now an’ next Satur- 
day night. Say, I overtook Admiral J. on the 
road, an’ gave him a lift as far as the city. Do 
you know I wouldn’t wonder if he’d turn out to 
be quite a decent chap, now he’s had sich a lesson. 
He talked a good deal like a man, an’ perhaps Mrs. 


302 Admiral J. of Spurwink. 

Gordon was right when she coddled him last 
night.” 

Then Dan drove away, and, when noon came, 
Matt expressed his surprise that some of the board- 
ers had not visited the wreck after the hour for 
bathing. 

“ I guess we shan’t have sich a terrible rush, 
after all,” he said, surveying ruefully the large and 
varied assortment of goods purchased by Dan. 

Spence appeared to have no such fear. He was 
in the best of spirits, and did not cease his efforts 
to make the wreck look attractive until Aunt Han- 
nah summoned them to dinner. 

Master Richmond and Joey ate first, leaving 
Matt on guard, although no one believed there was 
any danger the property would be disturbed. 

While he was at the house, Spence must have 
given Aunt Hannah an intimation as to why he 
was so eager she should visit the wreck that after- 
noon, for, when Matt came to dinner, the old lady 
had the air of one who is in possession of an im- 
portant and extremely pleasing secret. 

“ There’s somethin’ goin’ on that I don’t under- 
stand, Aunt Hannah.” 

“ You’ll soon know what it is, Matt, dear, an’ I 
do wish you’d fix yourself up as well as you can 
this afternoon.” 


The Surprise. 303 

“What’s the matter with me now?” he asked in 
surprise. 

“ You might comb your hair a little slicker, an’ 
be sure your face an’ hands are clean. How I wish 
you had a new jacket ! ’ 

Matt was instantly plunged into a maze of bewil- 
derment ; but it was in vain he questioned his aunt. 
She positively refused to answer, lest she should be- 
tray that which was to be kept a profound secret, 
and the boy went back to the wreck feeling almost 
uncomfortable in mind. 

Not until nearly two o’clock did the first of the 
guests arrive, and then it seemed to Matt as if there 
was a constant stream of visitors up to the gangway, 
until once more the decks were thronged. 

Among the last to arrive were Mr. and Mrs. 
Richmond, and with them came Aunt Hannah, 
wearing her “ Sunday dress,” looking more happy 
than Matt had ever seen her before. 

Dan Fernald stopped at the gangway, instead of 
going on board, explaining that it wouldn’t look 
well if he “crowded himself in with them as had 
hired him,” and talked with Matt regarding the bus- 
iness outlook until Mr. Richmond gave a certain 
signal. 

Then, linking his arm in that of the “ showman’s,” 
the boatman marched straight forward, regardless of 


804 


Admiral J. of Spurwink . 


the fact that he might be intruding upon those who 
44 had hired him,” until he was in the very midst of 
the throng. 

Exactly what happened during the quarter of an 
hour which followed, Matt had no very clear idea, 
because of his confusion. 

When thus literally forced to face the guests he 
understood that Mr. Richmond was making a speech, 
and he heard, as if in a dream, his name mentioned 
many times. Then he realized that the story of 
what he had done the night previous was being 
told, and his face grew crimson with blushes when 
he was praised as if the saving of Bart’s life was an 
heroic deed, rather than, as he viewed it, an ordi- 
nary affair of every-day life. 

Finally the lawyer handed him a well-filled pock- 
etbook', explaining that the contents, contributed 
by the guests of the Surf House, were to be used 
by him in gainingan education, adding in conclusion : 

44 The money will enable you to remain at school 
at least two years, if you practice such economy as 
your Aunt Hannah must have taught, and it re- 
mains with you to prove if it has been a good in- 
vestment for us.” 

After the speech everyone crowded around Matt, 
congratulating him upon having saved the life of 
his enemy at the risk of his own, and praising him 


The Surprise. 


305 


so warmly that he was heartily glad of an oppor- 
tunity to slip over the rail on to the beach where, 
half an hour later, Dan found him crying heartily. 

44 Why, Matt ! The idea of a boy who has jest had 
a present of four hundred dollars cryin’ like this ! ” 

44 Is there really so much money in it ? ” and Matt 
pointed to the pocketbook by his side. 

44 That’s the way it figgered up. What made 
you cry?” 

44 Because I felt sorry I wasn’t good enough to 
deserve it, Dan. I can understand why the people 
would do anything like that for Aunt Hannah, 
but they’ve got no reason to be so good to me.” 

44 I’ll take the chances the boarders haven’t gone 
wrong this time, my boy. Now let’s go back to the 
wreck, for you’re bound to show yourself before the 
folks go home.” 

From that moment — 

As to what finally became of Bart; how long 
the 44 show ” was kept open ; how much money the 
boys' made, or how Matt succeeded at school, can- 
not properly be told here. It is only proper the 
story should close at this point, for it was begun 
simply in order to relate certain events in the life 
of Admiral J. of Spur wink. 


THE END. 





































































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